Statins reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer in humans: a case-control study of half a million veterans.
OBJECTIVE
Statins are commonly used cholesterol-lowering agents that are noted to suppress tumor cell growth in several in vitro and animal models.


METHODS
We studied the association between pancreatic cancer and statins in veterans. A retrospective, nested case-control study was conducted using prospectively collected data from the Veterans Integrated Service Networks 16 Veteran Affairs database from 1998 to 2004. We analyzed data on 483,733 patients from 8 states located in south central United States. The primary variables of interest were pancreatic cancer and the use of statins before the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Multiple logistic regression analysis was done to adjust for covariates including age, sex, body mass index, smoking, diabetes, and race. The SAS software was used for statistical computing.


RESULTS
Of the 483,733 patients in the study, 163,467 (33.79%) were on statins, and 475 (0.098%) patients had a primary diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Statin use of more than 6 months was associated with a risk reduction of pancreatic cancer of 67% (adjusted odds ratio, 0.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.41; P < 0.01).A dose-response relationship was noted between statin use and pancreatic cancer with an 80% risk reduction (adjusted odds ratio, 0.2; 95% confidence interval, 0.13-0.29; P < 0.01) with use of statin for more than 4 years. Furthermore, the protective effect of statin was seen across different age and racial groups, and was irrespective of the presence of diabetes, smoking, or alcohol use.


CONCLUSIONS
Statins seem to be protective against the development of pancreatic cancer, and the magnitude of the effect correlates with the duration of statin use.
Khurana
Vikas
V
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Overton Brooks Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Shreveport, LA 71101-4295, USA. khuranav@gmail.com
Sheth
Ankur
A
Caldito
Gloria
G
Barkin
Jamie S
JS
D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors