In Vitro: Fluvastatin sodium (XU 62320) is a competitive inhibitor of hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR), the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonic acid, the rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis. Human hepatocellular carcinoma cell (HCC) studies indicate that Fluvastatin induces G2/M phase arrest. In the presence of Fluvastatin (XU 62320), HCC cells show a decrease of Bcl-2 and procaspase-9 expression, and an increase in Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and cytochrome c. Fluvastatin (XU 62320) is antilipemic and is used to reduce plasma cholesterol levels and prevent cardiovascular disease.