A large analysis of observational studies linked statins to lower cancer mortality. Such studies cannot prove cause, and a bias-corrected analysis found no difference.
The pooled analysis combined 95 cohort studies and reported a hazard ratio of 0.60 for cancer-specific mortality. Observational data cannot prove cause and effect.
An analysis designed to remove time-related bias found no difference (hazard ratio 1.00), and randomized trials in advanced cancer showed no survival benefit.
I'm standing here in front of a Pfizer plant in North Carolina to talk about one of the most famous cholesterol drugs, Lipitor. As a matter of fact, if you're into natural medicine, then you know part of the story already. Have you ever heard of red yeast rice?
Red yeast rice naturally contains monacolin K, the same molecule as in the prescription lovastatin, which is the precursor to Lipitor or atorvastatin. In fact, the statin story began with compounds discovered in fungus, and now statins are being studied for something very different than lowering cholesterol and reducing cardiovascular disease events. It's being studied in cancer.
One enormous analysis pooled 95 studies involving more than 1.1 million people. Statin use was associated with about a 40% lower risk of dying from cancer and about a 26% lower risk of cancer recurrence. Now that's an association. With more than a million people in the analysis, that is certainly a signal worth investigating.
A class of drugs whose story began with compounds formed in fungi became one of the most widely prescribed cholesterol medicines in the world. And now researchers are asking whether they may have another role in cancer treatment.
Here's the research. You decide.
Educational research summary, not medical advice. Talk with your oncologist and pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any treatment or supplement.