Statin use and the risk of liver cancer

Statin use and the risk of liver cancer

The latest issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology investigates statin use and the risk of liver cancer.

Statin Use and the Risk of Liver Cancer: A Population-Based Case–Control Study Experimental studies have shown that statins have potential protective effects against cancer. Dr Hui-Fen Chiu and colleagues investigated whether the use of statins was associated with liver cancer risk. The team conducted a population-based case–control study in Taiwan. Data were retrospectively collected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Cases consisted of all patients who were aged 50 years or more, and had a first-time diagnosis of liver cancer for the period between 2005 and 2008. Controls were pair matched to cases by age, sex, and index date. The research team examined 1,166 liver cancer cases and 1,166 controls. Compared with the group with no use of statins, the adjusted odds ratios were 0.6 for the group having been prescribed statins below 215 defined daily dose, and 0.63 for the group with cumulative statin use 215 defined daily dose or more. The team observed that the odds ratio for the group with cumulative statin use 215 defined daily dose or more were not statistically significant, but this may be due to the relatively small number of subjects. Dr Chiu's team concluded, "The results of this study suggest that statins may reduce the risk of liver cancer."

Am J Gastroenterol 2011; 106: 894–98 13 May 2011