Use of statins to reduce cholesterol has been reported to be associated with reduced breast cancer risk and improved breast cancer-specific survival. For example, several studies have found favorable links between statin use and triple negative (ER-/PR-/HER2-) breast cancer. Statin use has also been reported to potentiate certain breast cancer treatments. However, some studies have reported no such associations.
Now a new meta-analysis of data from previous studies has reported that statin use, especially lipophilic statin use, is associated with favorable outcomes for breast cancer recurrence and mortality.

Statin types

Statins are classified either as lipophilic (e.g., Lipitor (atorvastatin), Zocor(simvastatin)) or hydrophilic (Crestor (rosuvastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin)) depending on their degree of fat solubility. Lipophilic statins are also known as hydrophobic statins. Generally speaking, lipophilic statins have been reported to have more chemopreventive properties with respect to breast cancer than hydrophilic varieties.

Latest research finds statins improve breast cancer outcomes

The meta-analysis of previous studies referenced above was designed to investigate the association between statin use and both breast cancer recurrence and breast cancer-specific mortality. To conduct the study, the authors used data from studies in several databases through June 13, 2024.
Subgroup analyses were conducted according to type of statin (lipophilic compared to hydrophilic), estrogen receptor status (ER+ or ER-), stage (early or advanced), type of post-diagnostic use (new or prevalent user), and the potential for immortal time bias (ITB). ITB occurs when a spurious survival advantage is conferred to a group during a period when events could not occur. The authors give as an example the case of a woman who is given a statin at some point after her diagnosis. In this case, it is not possible that she died between her diagnosis and the statin dispensing.
A significant protective association was found overall between statin use and both recurrence (20 studies) and breast cancer-specific mortality (21 studies). Lipophilic statins were shown to be more protective than hydrophilic statins with respect to breast cancer-specific mortality. There were also non-significant findings of more protective associations regarding recurrence in ER+ patients and in studies with ITB. Little evidence was seen of result variations according to stage (early or advanced) or type of post-diagnostic use (new or prevalent user).
The authors conclude that statin use, especially lipophilic statin use, is associated with favorable outcomes for breast cancer recurrence and mortality in this meta-analysis.
Please see our statin tag for more information.