Cancer cells exhibit profound alterations in lipid metabolism to support their rapid growth, proliferation, and survival. Among these alterations, the increased synthesis and storage of lipids in the form of lipid droplets are particularly significant. Lipid droplets are lipid-rich cytosolic organelles that play roles in cell signaling, membrane trafficking, and many other cellular activities. Recent studies revealed that lipid droplets in cancer cells have various biological functions, such as energy production, membrane synthesis, and chemoresistance, thereby fostering cancer progression. Statins, widely known for their cholesterol-lowering effects, inhibit the mevalonate pathway, a crucial pathway for cholesterol biosynthesis. Emerging evidence suggests that statins may have anti-cancer properties by disrupting lipid metabolism, reducing cell proliferation, and inducing apoptosis in various cancer cell types. This study focuses on Atorvastatin (ATST), a specific type of statin, and its potential effects on cancer cell lipid metabolism. This study aims to investigate the impact of ATST statin on lipid metabolism in HeLa cells, to provide insight on potential therapeutic window for cancer treatment or the potential use in combination cancer therapies. Images of lipid and protein distributions across three experimental groups were obtained using Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) imaging.
