The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7303 p729
12 June 2004

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American Society of Clinical Oncology: reports (more)

Statins may prevent cancer

Statins may have a protective effect against colorectal cancer, according to data from a case-control study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in New Orleans earlier this week.

The study involved 1,814 Israeli patients with colorectal cancer and 1,959 matched controls. Statin use (simvastatin and pravastatin in most patients) for at least five years was reported in 106 patients with colorectal cancer and 222 controls. There was a 51 per cent reduction in risk of colorectal cancer associated with statin use (95 per cent confidence interval 0.38–0.62, P<0.0001).

Following control for factors that influence the risk of colorectal cancer, such as age, cholesterol levels, ethnicity, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and a mutation in the APC gene, a 46 per cent reduction in risk was found. The researchers also looked at fibric acid derivatives and found no protection associated with their use. They concluded that the protective effect is specific to statins.

The reports on this page are from the 40th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology which took place in New Orleans, Louisiana, from June 5 to 8. The Journal attended the congress courtesy of Eli Lilly