Statins slash risk of death by cancer: They slow tumour growth by up to 50% reveal major studies

• Experts say there is ‘overwhelming’ evidence that statins can treat cancer
• Study showed they cut death rates for bone cancer patients by 55 per cent
• GPs should make patients aware of pills’ new benefits, researchers say

By Sophie Borland, Health Correspondent

Published: 23:51, 2 June 2015 | Updated: 00:01, 3 June 2015

Taking statins can cut your risk of dying from cancer by up to 50 per cent, two major studies have shown.

While the drugs do not seem to prevent cancer in the first place, it is believed they boost survival rates by slowing the rate at which tumours grow. 

Experts say the evidence is overwhelming that, as well preventing heart attacks and strokes, statins can be as effective at fighting cancer as conventional treatments such as chemotherapy.

A study involving almost 150,000 women found those taking statins, whether initially healthy or not, were 22 per cent less likely to die from any form of cancer than those not on the drugs.

But this effect varied between the different types of the disease. For breast cancer, statins reduced death rates by 40 per cent, for ovarian by 42 per cent and bowel by 43 per cent. 

For bone cancer, which is rarer, death rates were cut by more than half – 55 per cent. 

A separate study on 22,110 men with prostate cancer found that those who happened to be taking statins were 43 per cent less likely to die from the illness.

Researchers say GPs should make patients aware of the cancer-fighting benefits of the pills as it may sway their decision to start taking them.

Around seven million adults in Britain take statins – the most commonly prescribed drugs in the UK – to lower cholesterol levels. 

They cost just 3p a day and work by stopping the accumulation on blood vessel walls of cholesterol deposits which trigger heart attacks and strokes.

Last summer, the NHS issued new guidance saying the pills should offered to 17million adults – 40 per cent of the population – on the basis they could save up to 2,000 lives a year. 

There is growing evidence that statins may also reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. 

But many doctors are suspicious about their long-term safety and say drugs firms have downplayed their side effects, which affect one in ten and include nosebleeds, muscle pain, a sore throat and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Nonetheless two studies presented at the American Society for Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago, one from Yale University in Connecticut and the other from Rutgers University in New Jersey, show statins may help prevent cancer.

For breast cancer (pictured), statins reduced death rates by 40 per cent, for ovarian by 42 per cent and bowel by 43 per cent. For bone cancer, which is rarer, death rates were cut by more than half 

Researchers believe that, by reducing cholesterol, the pills also lower the levels of certain hormones – androgens – which encourage tumour growth. 

As well as being rendered less aggressive, the tumours are less likely to return, they say. So if someone who is taking statins gets cancer, they are more likely to survive.

Professor Noel Clarke of the Christie NHS hospital in Manchester, which specialises in treating cancer, said GPs should discuss statins with patients at high risk of cancer.

‘The balance of evidence says that statins have an anti-cancer effect,’ he said. ‘Therefore if someone is in a situation where there is increased risk of cancer, be it prostate cancer or breast, then a discussion could be had about the risks and benefits of statins. ’

GPs are being urged to make patients aware of the cancer-fighting properties of the pills, but some family doctors are concerned by the side effects

In the Yale study, researchers looked at the records of 146,326 women aged 50 to 79 over a 15-year period. 

Those taking statins were on average 22 per cent less likely to die from any form of cancer, regardless of how long they had been on the drugs.

Ange Wang, of the Stanford University School of Medicine said: ‘We’re definitely very excited by these results.’ 

Referring to whether GPs should prescribe statins for cancer prevention, she added: ‘I think it should be a priority, given how common statins are.’

The Rutgers study showed that men with prostate cancer were 42 per cent less likely to die from the disease if they were taking either statins or metformin –a diabetes drug.

Lead researcher Grace Lu-Yao said tests on rats had shown that taking statins and metformin were as effective as the common chemotherapy drug docetaxel in treating prostate cancer.

Despite the benefits of statins, a number of leading doctors and academics oppose prescribing them widely to healthy adults because of possible long-term side effects.

Recently a professor who had advocated widespread use of statins announced he was carrying out a review into their safety.

Sir Rory Collins of Oxford University is to examine the records of tens of thousands of patients to establish how many may have suffered side effects.

Six of the 12 experts who drew-up NHS guidance on the drugs have received funding from firms that manufacture statins.

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Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins