TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of statins on breast cancer recurrence and mortality
T2 - A review
AU - Van Wyhe, Renae D.
AU - Rahal, Omar M.
AU - Woodward, Wendy A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Van Wyhe et al.
PY - 2017/12/1
Y1 - 2017/12/1
N2 - Statins, or 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, are medications that have been used for decades to lower cholesterol and to prevent or treat cardiovascular diseases. Since their approval by the US Food and Drug Administration in the 1980s, other potential uses for statins have been speculated on and explored. Basic science and clinical research suggest that statins are also effective in the management of breast cancer. Specifically, in various breast cancer cell lines, statins increase apoptosis and radiosensitivity, inhibit proliferation and invasion, and decrease the metastatic dissemination of tumors. Clinical trials in breast cancer patients support these laboratory findings by demonstrating improved local control and a mortality benefit for statin users. A role for statins in the management of aggressive breast cancers with poor outcomes – namely, inflammatory breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer – is particularly implicated. However, data exist showing that statins may actually promote invasive breast disease after long-term use and thus should be prescribed cautiously. Furthermore, a general consensus on the type of statin that should be administered, for how long, and when in relation to time of diagnosis is lacking. Given their low toxicity profile, affordability, and ease of use, consideration of statins as a therapy for breast cancer patients is imminent. In this review, we summarize current evidence regarding statins and clinical breast cancer outcomes, as well as discuss potential future studies that could shed light on this increasingly relevant topic.
AB - Statins, or 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, are medications that have been used for decades to lower cholesterol and to prevent or treat cardiovascular diseases. Since their approval by the US Food and Drug Administration in the 1980s, other potential uses for statins have been speculated on and explored. Basic science and clinical research suggest that statins are also effective in the management of breast cancer. Specifically, in various breast cancer cell lines, statins increase apoptosis and radiosensitivity, inhibit proliferation and invasion, and decrease the metastatic dissemination of tumors. Clinical trials in breast cancer patients support these laboratory findings by demonstrating improved local control and a mortality benefit for statin users. A role for statins in the management of aggressive breast cancers with poor outcomes – namely, inflammatory breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer – is particularly implicated. However, data exist showing that statins may actually promote invasive breast disease after long-term use and thus should be prescribed cautiously. Furthermore, a general consensus on the type of statin that should be administered, for how long, and when in relation to time of diagnosis is lacking. Given their low toxicity profile, affordability, and ease of use, consideration of statins as a therapy for breast cancer patients is imminent. In this review, we summarize current evidence regarding statins and clinical breast cancer outcomes, as well as discuss potential future studies that could shed light on this increasingly relevant topic.
KW - Breast cancer
KW - HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors
KW - Inflammatory breast cancer
KW - Locoregional recurrence
KW - Statins
KW - Triple-negative breast cancer
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85044364657&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85044364657&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2147/BCTT.S148080
DO - 10.2147/BCTT.S148080
M3 - Review article
C2 - 29238220
AN - SCOPUS:85044364657
SN - 1179-1314
VL - 9
SP - 559
EP - 565
JO - Breast Cancer: Targets and Therapy
JF - Breast Cancer: Targets and Therapy
ER -