Women using statins for more than five years have a 27% increased risk of breast cancer

This study was published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention 2007 Mar;16(3):416-21

 

Study title and authors:

Statin use and breast cancer risk in a large population-based setting.

Boudreau DM, Yu O, Miglioretti DL, Buist DS, Heckbert SR, Daling JR.

Group Health, Center for Health Studies, Suite 1600, 1730 Minor Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA. boudreau.d@ghc.org

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17372235

The objective of the study was to evaluate the relationship between statin use and breast cancer risk. The study included 92,788 women, aged 45 to 89, who were followed for 6.4 years.

The study found:
(a) Statin users had a 7.4% inceased risk of breast cancer compared to non users.
(b) A longer duration of statin use led to an increased risk of breast cancer:
(i) Statin use of three to 4.9 years was associated with a 4% increased risked of breast cancer.
(ii) Statin use of over five years was associated with a 27% increased risked of breast cancer.

The data from the study shows that statin use is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, and the longer the duration of statin use - the higher the risk of breast cancer.

Rosuvastatin (Crestor) is associated with a 2.8-fold increased risk of lung cancer

This study was published in the Libyan Journal of Medicine 2012 Dec 27;7(0):1-3

 

Study title and authors:

Statins use and female lung cancer risk in Taiwan.

Lai SW, Liao KF, Lin CL, Sung FC, Cheng YH.

School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Family Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23272648

This study investigated the assoiation between statins and lung cancer in women. The study included 1,117 women with newly diagnosed lung cancer, average age 66.5 years, who were compared to 4,468 age-matched women without lung cancer.

The study found:
(a) Statin use was associated with a 7% increased risk of lung cancer.
(b) Rosuvastatin (Crestor) use of over 12 months duration was associated with a 2.8-fold increased risk of lung cancer.

The data from the study reveals that statin use is associated with higher rates of lung cancer.

In patients undergoing treatment for bladder cancer, statins are significantly associated with an increased risk of tumor progression

This study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine 2006 Dec 21;355(25):2705-7

 

Study title and authors:

Use of statins and outcome of BCG treatment for bladder cancer.

Hoffmann P, Roumeguère T, Schulman C, van Velthoven R.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17183004

This study investigated the association between statins and bladder cancer. The study, which lasted for 46 months, analyzed the clinical outcomes of 84 patients who had received the bacille Calmette–Guérin vaccine for the treatment of non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

The study found:
(a) In 53% of the patients who took statins, the tumor became more aggressive, whereas this change occurred in only 18% of the patients who did not take statins.
(b) 42% of the patients in the statin group had to undergo radical cystectomy, (radical cystectomy is the removal of the entire bladder, nearby lymph nodes, part of the urethra, and nearby organs that may contain cancer cells), as compared with only 14% of the patients who did not take statins.

In patients undergoing treatment for bladder cancer, the use of statins was significantly associated with an increased risk of tumor progression and a subsequent need for radical cystectomy.

Statins are associated with higher death rates, higher cardiac death rates and increased risk of cancer

This study was published in Circulation 2000 Oct 10;102(15):1748-54

 

Study title and authors:

Long-term effects of cholesterol lowering and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition on coronary atherosclerosis: The Simvastatin/Enalapril Coronary Atherosclerosis Trial (SCAT).

Teo KK, Burton JR, Buller CE, Plante S, Catellier D, Tymchak W, Dzavik V, Taylor D, Yokoyama S, Montague TJ.

University of Alberta Hospitals, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. teok@fhs.mcmaster.ca

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11023927

One of the aims of this long-term, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was to evaluate the effects of simvastatin in patients with normal cholesterol levels and with detectable plaque build up in at least three major coronary artery segments. The study lasted for four years and included  a total of 460 patients: 230 received simvastatin and 230, a placebo.

The study found:
(a) The patients receiving simvastatin had a 117% increased risk of death compared to the patients receiving placebo.
(b) The patients receiving simvastatin had a 76% increased risk of cardiac death compared to the patients receiving placebo.
(c) The patients receiving simvastatin had a 225% increased risk of non-cardiac death compared to the patients receiving placebo.
(d) The patients receiving simvastatin had a 9% increased risk of a heart attack compared to the patients receiving placebo.
(e) The patients receiving simvastatin had a 78% increased risk of cancer compared to the patients receiving placebo.

The data from the study reveals that statins are associated with higher death rates, higher cardiac death rates and increased risk of cancer. 

Increased risk of breast cancer related to statin use

This study was published in Anticancer Research 2009 Dec;29(12):5143-8

Study title and authors:

Statins and breast cancer in postmenopausal women without hormone therapy.

Eaton M, Eklof J, Beal JR, Sahmoun AE.

University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND, USA.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20044629

This study investigated the association between statin use and risk of breast cancer among overweight or obese postmenopausal women who have never used hormone therapy. The study included 95 women with breast cancer and 94 controls. The women were aged from 55 to 81 years old and had a body mass index over 25.0 kg/m2.

The study found:
(a) Women who used statins had a 30% increased risk of breast cancer compared to women not using statins.
(b) Women who used lovastatin, simvastatin, fluvastatin, or atorvastatin type statins had a 310% increased risk of breast cancer.

This study found an increased risk of breast cancer related to statin use in overweight postmenopausal women.

Links to other studies:
Young women who are treated with statins may be at increased risk for the development of breast cancer
Statins may promote cancer in certain segments of the population

NSAIDs and statins increase the risk of renal cell carcinoma

This study was presented at the American Urological Association Annual Meeting; May 19-23, 2012; Atlanta, GA. Abstract 575.

Study title and authors:
NSAID and statin use and risk of renal cell carcinoma.
Chéry L, Wright J, Hotaling J,

This study can be accessed at: http://www.onclive.com/publications/urologists-in-cancer-care/2012/June-2012/NSAIDs-and-Statins-Have-No-Impact-on-Renal-Cell-Carcinoma-Risk

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs are the most prescribed medications for treating conditions such as arthritis. Examples of NSAIDs are aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and Nabumetone.

Chery notes that renal cell carcinoma, the most common type of kidney cancer, is the sixth most common cancer in men and the eighth most common cancer in women.

This study set out to determine the effect of NSAIDs and statins on the risk of renal cell carcinoma.  The study included 77,048 individuals aged 50 to 76 years

The study found:
(a) Those with a low use of NSAIDs (1-3 days/week or less than four years) had a 1% increased risk of developing renal cell carcinoma compared to nonusers of NSAIDs.
(b) Those with a high use of NSAIDs (more than four days/week and over four years) had a 20% increased risk of developing renal cell carcinoma compared to nonusers of NSAIDs.
(c) Those who were taking statins had a 10% increased risk of developing renal cell carcinoma.

The data from the study reveals that NSAIDs and statins increase the risk of renal cell carcinoma.

Pravastatin increases the risk of cancer by 6%

This paper was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal 2007 Feb 27;176(5):649-54

Study title and authors:

Does pravastatin promote cancer in elderly patients? A meta-analysis.

Bonovas S, Sitaras NM.

Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Athens Athens, Greece. sbonovas@med.uoa.gr

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17325332

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of pravastatin therapy on cancer risk. The study analysed the results of 12 pravastatin trials which included 42,902 men and women, (21,454 patients in pravastatin groups and 21,448 in control groups).

The study found:
(a) Pravastatin users had a 6% increased risk of cancer compared to non-statin users.
(b) Pravastatin therapy was associated with an increasing risk of cancer as the patient age increased. E.g. The oldest pravastain users, aged over 75, had a 22% increased risk of cancer compared to non-users.

Bonovas concluded: "this analysis showed that pravastatin therapy was associated with an increasing risk of cancer as age increased".

Links to other studies:
Young women who are treated with statins may be at increased risk for the development of breast cancer
Statins increase cancer rates by 41% and the overall death rate by 4%
Statins increase the risk of prostate cancer

Statin users have a 25% increased risk of developing Merkel cell carcinoma

This study was published in Cancer Epidemiology 2012 Jun 7

Study title and authors:

Increased incidence of Merkel cell carcinoma among younger statin users.

Sahi H, Koljonen V, Böhling T, Neuvonen PJ, Vainio H, Lamminpää A, Kyyrönen P, Pukkala E.

Department of Plastic Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Pathology, Helsinki University and HUSLAB, Helsinki, Finland.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22683172

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare type of skin cancer. It develops in Merkel cells which are in the top layer of the skin.

The aim of the study was to find out whether statin users have an increased incidence of Merkel cell carcinoma. The study included 454,935 men and women.

The study found:
(a) Statin users had a 25% increased risk of developing Merkel cell carcinoma compared to non-statin users.
(b) Statin users aged under 60 had a 216% increased risk of developing Merkel cell carcinoma compared to non-statin users.

The study reveals that statin use is linked to higher rates of Merkel cell carcinoma.

Useful reading:
How Statin Drugs Really Lower Cholesterol: And Kill You One Cell at a Time

Increase in colorectal cancer cases in statin users

This study was published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology 2011 Dec 21;17(47):5197-202

Study title and authors:
Statin use and the risk of colorectal cancer: a population-based case-control study.

Cheng MH, Chiu HF, Ho SC, Tsai SS, Wu TN, Yang CY.
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan, China.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22215945

The aim of the study was to investigate whether the use of statins is associated with colorectal cancer risk. The study included 1,156 colorectal cancer cases and 4,624 controls.

The results of the study revealed that those who were prescribed statins had a 9% increased risk of colorectal cancer compared to those who did not take statins.

Links to other studies:
Statins increase the risk of colon adenomas by 54%
Statins increase cancer rates by 41% and the overall death rate by 4%
Statins increase lymphoid malignancy rates by 124%