Further evidence suggests neutral effect of statins on risk of cancer
Further evidence to suggest that statins are not associated with an
increased or decreased risk of cancer has emerged in a meta-analysis
published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (2006;24:4808). An earlier
review of 26 trials involving 86,936 participants also concluded that
statins have a neutral effect on the risk of developing or dying from
cancer (PJ, 7 January, p6).
The latest analysis looked at 35 trials involving 109,143 individuals
with an average follow-up of 4.5 years. The researchers found no evidence
of an association between statin therapy and overall cancer risk (relative
risk 0.99; 95 per cent confidence interval 0.94–1.04; P=0.66).
However, they did find that statin use in older age is associated with
a higher risk of developing cancer. A 10-year rise in mean age of enrolled
individuals increased the risk ratio by 14 per cent (CI 5 per cent to
23 per cent), but the researchers warn that a causal relationship needs
to be verified.
The researchers conclude that existing data do not support a potential
role for statins in cancer chemoprevention. However, they note that their
conclusion is limited by the relatively short follow-up periods of the
studies analysed and say that it is important to continue long-term monitoring. “Until
then, physicians need to be vigilant in ensuring that use of statins
remains restricted to the approved indications,” they say.
In an accompanying editorial (ibid, p4796), Kyungmann Kim of the University
of Wisconsin-Madison, says that according to epidemiological studies
and meta-analyses of cancer risks in clinical trials the only sensible
conclusion that can be reached is that the association between statin
use and cancer risk is at best inconclusive and, at worst, there are
no effects at all. However, he notes that the recent meta-analysis is
informative since it is consistent with findings from other meta-analyses. |
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