|
A class of drugs commonly used to lower cholesterol may also reduce the risk of breast cancer, according to research
results presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in May 2005. In the
study of military veterans, women who were taking statins to lower their cholesterol were over 50% less likely to
develop breast cancer than women who were not taking statins. Though the research is preliminary, the researchers say
the results reveal a promising new lead in helping to prevent breast cancer.
"This is a significant study for patients with breast cancer and women at high risk for this disease," said Vikas
Khurana, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Louisiana State University Health Science Center at Shreveporta and senior
author of the study, in an ASCO news release. "The findings indicate that statins may have a role in breast cancer prevention."
To conduct the study, Dr. Khurana and his colleagues collected data between October 1998 and June 2004 from a database containing
health information about U.S. military veteran. They studied the effect of statins on 556 women with a history
of breast cancer. They compared these women to another group of 39,865 women with no history of the disease. The
study was conducted at the Overton Brooks Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Shreveport, Louisiana.
The results of the study showed that statins were associated with a 51% risk reduction of breast cancer after
controlling for age, smoking, alcohol use and diabetes. Common statins include atorvastatin (brand name, Lipitor),
lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), simvastatin (Zocor).
Despite promising results, the researchers say that their study is preliminary and findings must be confirmed in
larger clinical trials. "It would be premature to tell women to take statins to decrease their breast cancer risk,"
said Dr. Khurana. "But if our results are confirmed, I think statins will have a significant chemopreventive role in
women at high risk for breast cancer."
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women today (after lung cancer) and is the most
common cancer among women, excluding nonmelanoma skin cancers. The American Cancer Society estimates that in
2005, approximately 211,240 women in the United States will be diagnosed invasive breast cancer. The chance
of developing invasive breast cancer during a woman's lifetime is approximately 1 in 7 (13.4%). Another
58,490 women will be diagnosed with in situ breast cancer, a very early form of the disease.
Risk factors for breast cancer include advancing age, personal or family history of the disease, early onset of
menstruation or late
menopause, and long-term use of hormone replacement
therapy. Women have the highest chances of successful treatment
and survival if breast cancer is detected early.
Additional Resources and References
- The study, Statins Reduce Breast Cancer Risk: A Case Control Study in U.S. Female Veterans," by
R. Kochhar, V. Khurana, R. Kochhar, H. Bejjanki, G. Caldito, and C. Fort was presented on
May 14, 2005 at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, http://www.asco.org
- To learn more about breast cancer risk factors, please visit http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/bc_risks.asp
Return to Breast Health News Archives |
