Is statin use associated with a reduced incidence, a reduced Breslow thickness or delayed metastasis of melanoma of the skin?
BACKGROUND
Statins show anticancer activity in melanoma cells. We investigated the association between statins and incidence and Breslow thickness of cutaneous melanoma (CM).


METHODS
Data were used from PHARMO, a pharmacy database, and PALGA, a pathological database, in the Netherlands. Cases had a primary CM diagnosis between January 1st 1991 and December 14th 2004, were 18 years and had 3 years of follow up in PHARMO before CM diagnosis. Controls were matched for gender, date of birth and geographic region. Analyses were adjusted for age, gender, year of diagnosis, number of medical diagnoses and the use of NSAIDs and oestrogens.


RESULTS
Finally, 1318 cases and 6786 controls were selected. CM risk was not associated with statin use (> or = 0.5 years) (adjusted odds ratio (OR)=0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.78-1.2). However, statin use was associated with a reduced Breslow thickness (-19%, 95% CI=-33, -2.3, p=0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests protective effects of statins on melanoma progression.
Koomen
E R
ER
Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Toxicology, Leiden University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. e.r.koomen@lumc.nl
Joosse
A
A
Herings
R M C
RM
Casparie
M K
MK
Bergman
W
W
Nijsten
T
T
Guchelaar
H J
HJ
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000517:prevention & control; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors