Statins Could Lower Mortality Risk in Women with Breast Cancer: New Study.
Recent research published in JAMA Network Open has unveiled a potential link between statin use and a reduced risk of mortality in women with breast cancer.
Statins, commonly prescribed medications for lowering lipid levels, demonstrated a significant impact on mortality rates when cholesterol levels dropped after initiating statin therapy (Source: Healthline).
Previous research has indicated a potential association between high cholesterol levels and an increased risk of cancer. The study suggests that statin use might disrupt cancer cell signaling pathways and impede tumor development.
The researchers delved into the data of 13,378 females diagnosed with breast cancer, following them for an average of 4.5 years post-diagnosis.
During this period, 16.4% of patients succumbed to various causes, with 7% attributed to breast cancer.
Key findings indicate a noteworthy drop in the risk of death among those who initiated statin therapy post-diagnosis and experienced a reduction in cholesterol levels.
The study reported a mortality rate of 7.6% among participants not taking statins, compared to 6.1% for those on statins.
Dr. Parvin Peddi, Director of Breast Medical Oncology at Providence Saint John’s Health Center and Associate Professor of Medical Oncology at Saint John’s Cancer Institute, emphasized the preliminary nature of the findings in a retrospective study.
However, the reduced risk of death was notably observed in women with estrogen receptor–positive tumors, and the risk further diminished with an increase in the intensity of statin use.
Crucially, the study revealed that the decreased risk of death was primarily evident in individuals with localized disease.
Statins did not demonstrate a significant impact on survival rates among those with metastatic disease, raising questions about the potential limitations of statin efficacy in advanced stages of breast cancer.
While the findings are promising, experts emphasize the need for further research to validate these early results and explore the nuances of statin’s impact on breast cancer outcomes.
Integrating statins into breast cancer treatment warrants a more comprehensive understanding of their effects across diverse patient populations and disease stages.
As research unfolds, statins could emerge as a complementary tool in the multifaceted approach to breast cancer care, offering potential benefits for specific subsets of patients.
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