Statins, especially atorvastatin, may improve survival following brachytherapy for clinically localized prostate cancer

Urol Nurs. 2006 Aug;26(4):298-303.

Abstract

This is the largest and longest clinical study to date to examine statin usage and overall patient survival following clinically localized prostate cancer. In a retrospective examination of 938 consecutive patients with early-stage prostate cancer treated with brachytherapy, 191 patients were documented to be taking statin medications. The patients taking statin medications had significantly lower prostate-specific antigen values, percent positive biopsies, and prostate volume than those patients not taking statin medications. Statin usage resulted in a nonstatistical improvement in all survival parameters with the results most pronounced for atorvastatin. Improving prostate cancer survival with statins could have important treatment implications and could potentially limit or even improve the role of supplemental therapies. A prospective trial of statin medications in conjunction with definitive local treatment for prostate cancer is recommended.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Atorvastatin
  • Biopsy
  • Brachytherapy*
  • Cause of Death
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / therapeutic use
  • Fluvastatin
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heptanoic Acids / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Indoles / therapeutic use
  • Lovastatin / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Pravastatin / therapeutic use
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / mortality
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Pyrroles / therapeutic use*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Simvastatin / therapeutic use
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated
  • Heptanoic Acids
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Indoles
  • Pyrroles
  • Fluvastatin
  • Lovastatin
  • Atorvastatin
  • Simvastatin
  • Pravastatin