Statins reduced risk for cancer, mortality in heart transplant recipients

Issue: August 10, 2012

Patients undergoing heart transplantation who were prescribed statins experienced reductions in the risk for cancer and all-cause mortality, according to study results.

Perspective from Harry S. Jacob, MD, FRCPath(Hon)

The beneficial effects were independent of patients’ cholesterol levels, researchers said.

The study included 255 patients who underwent heart transplantation at the University Hospital Zurich in Switzerland between 1985 and 2007 and were alive after the first year. The primary endpoint was occurrence of any cancer, and the secondary endpoint was OS.

Forty-two percent of patients were diagnosed with a malignancy during follow-up.

Study results showed the use of statins reduced the hazard of occurrence of any malignancy by 65% (P<.0001). Eight years after transplantation, the cumulative incidence of tumors was 34% in patients who did not receive a statin compared with 13% in patients who did receive a statin (P=.003). This reduction persisted at 10-year follow-up (39% vs. 18%) and 12-year follow-up (42% vs. 22%).

Statin use also was associated with improved cancer-free survival and OS (P<.0001 for both).

“We have shown that statin therapy prevents cancer in heart transplant recipients, and it is known that statins also prevent graft atherosclerosis,” Frank Enseleit, MD, deputy director of heart failure and transplantation at the University Hospital Zurich, said in a press release. “We have to conclude that it should be a lifelong therapy in heart transplant recipients.”

Reference:

Enseleit FE. Abstract #P306. Presented at: the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure 2012 Scientific Meeting; May 19-22, 2012; Belgrade, Serbia.

Disclosure:

Dr. Enseleit reports no relevant financial disclosures.

Perspective

Harry S. Jacob, MD, FRCPath(Hon)

Several previous epidemiologic studies have suggested that this benefit is real (in patients without obvious cardiovascular disorders, as well as post-cardiac transplant). A very recent paper (Beales IL. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2012;24:917-923) is particularly evocative in this regard. A 50% reduction in emergent esophageal cancer was noted in a large cohort of Barrett’s esophagus patients. Happy to be on statins. How about you?

Harry S. Jacob, MD, FRCPath(Hon)

HemOnc Today Chief Medical Editor

Disclosures: Dr. Jacob reports no relevant financial disclosures.