Can statin therapy reduce the risk of melanoma? A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
A growing body of literature suggests that statins may have a chemopreventive potential against melanoma through pleiotropic anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antiangiogenesis mechanisms. Our aim was to examine this association through a detailed meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). A comprehensive search for trials published up to June 2009 was performed, reviews of each study were conducted and data were abstracted. Prior to meta-analysis, the studies were evaluated for publication bias and heterogeneity. Pooled relative risk estimates (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the fixed- and the random-effects models. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also conducted. Sixteen RCTs of statins for cardiovascular outcomes, involving 62,568 individuals with a mean age of 60 years and an average follow-up of nearly 4.7 years, contributed to the analysis. We found no evidence of publication bias (P = 0.47) or heterogeneity among the studies (P = 0.25). Statin use did not significantly affect the risk of developing melanoma assuming either a fixed- (RR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.67-1.26), or a random-effects model (RR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.62-1.36). This neutral effect was further supported by the results of subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Our findings do not support a protective effect of statins against melanoma.
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str., 11527 Athens, Greece. sbonovas@med.uoa.gr
Stefanos
S
Bonovas
Georgios
G
Nikolopoulos
Kalitsa
K
Filioussi
Evangelia
E
Peponi
Pantelis
P
Bagos
Nikolaos M
NM
Sitaras
D000214:Acyl Coenzyme A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D018890:Chemoprevention; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012306:Risk; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000214:Acyl Coenzyme A; C008047:3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A