Background
In 1987 the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, statins, were first marketed and are now widely used as well-tolerated therapeutics for hypercholesterolemia. High interleukin 6 (IL-6) plasma levels in melanoma patients are linked to a higher tumour burden and reduced overall survival. We have recently shown that simvastatin triggers apoptosis in human metastatic melanoma cells which is associated with concentration-dependent changes in autocrine IL-6 secretion. Here, we investigated IL-6 signalling with respect to proliferation and migration in human metastatic melanoma cells under statin application.