title: Prospective analysis of association between use of statins or other lipid-lowering agents and colorectal cancer risk.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A inhibitors (statins) are associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The population included 159,219 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative in which 2000 pathologically confirmed cases of colorectal cancer were identified during an average of 10.7 (S.D. 2.9) years. Information on statins was collected at baseline and years 1, 3, 6, and 9. Self- and interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect information on other risk factors. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by the use of Cox proportional hazards regression to evaluate the relationship between statin use and risk. Statistical tests were two-sided.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statins were used by 12,030 (7.6%) women at baseline. The annualized colorectal cancer rate was 0.13% among users and 0.12% among nonusers. The multivariable adjusted HR for users versus nonusers was 0.99 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-1.20, p = .95), and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.56-1.11) for users of ≥3 years. In the multivariable adjusted time-dependent model, the HR for lovastatin was 0.62 (95% CI, 0.39-0.99). There was no effect of tumor location, stage or grade.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a reduction in colorectal cancer risk associated with lovastatin and a nonsignificant association with longer duration of use.
authors: Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA. simonm@karmanos.org
authors: Michael S
authors: MS
authors: Simon
authors: Carol A
authors: CA
authors: Rosenberg
authors: Rebecca J
authors: RJ
authors: Rodabough
authors: Phillip
authors: P
authors: Greenland
authors: Ira
authors: I
authors: Ockene
authors: Hemant K
authors: HK
authors: Roy
authors: Dorothy S
authors: DS
authors: Lane
authors: Jane A
authors: JA
authors: Cauley
authors: Janardan
authors: J
authors: Khandekar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors