Statins decrease mortality risk in Breast Cancer, confirms study

The researchers in Swedish nationwide study have confirmed positive role of Statins in inhibiting progression of Breast Cancer. The Statins have a protective role regarding breast cancer-related mortality the study finds. The study has been published in BMC Cancer is open access, peer-reviewed journal.

Statins are medications that have been used for decades to lower cholesterol and to prevent or treat cardiovascular diseases. Since their approval by the US Food and Drug Administration in the 1980s, other potential uses for statins have been speculated on and explored. Basic science and clinical research suggest that statins are also effective in the management of breast cancer.Statins represent a new potential therapy to improve local control and provide a benefit for patients with breast cancer.

Borgquist S et al. conducted a Swedish nationwide study and investigated the association between both pre- and post-diagnostic statin use and breast cancer outcome.

Prior to this a sizeable body of evidence suggests that statins can cease breast cancer progression and prevent breast cancer recurrence. The latest studies have, however, not been supportive of such clinically beneficial effects.

The researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study of 20,559 Swedish women diagnosed with breast cancer (July 1st, 2005 through 2008). Total dispensed statin medication was identified through the Swedish Prescription Registry. Breast cancer related death information was obtained from the national cause-of-death registry until December 31st, 2012. Cox regression models yielded hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) regarding associations between statin use and breast cancer-specific and overall mortality.

During a median follow-up time of 61.6 months, a total of 4678 patients died and out of these 2669 were considered breast cancer-related deaths. Regular pre-diagnostic statin use was noted to be associated with lower risk of breast cancer-related deaths when compared to non- or irregular statin use. Similarly, post-diagnostic statin use compared to non-use was associated with lower risk of breast cancer-related deaths.

The researchers concluded that statin use is protective regarding breast cancer related mortality in agreement with previous Scandinavian studies, although less so with studies in other populations. These disparities should be further investigated to pave the way for future randomized clinical trials investigating the role of statins in breast cancer.

For further reference log on to : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-018-5263-z