Statin, aspirin use linked to decreased mortality in uterine cancer

CHICAGO — Use of both statins and aspirin was associated with a reduction in mortality risk of more than 80% in a cohort of women with uterine malignancies, according to study results presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting.

Nicole Nevadunsky, MD, an assistant professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, NY, and colleagues conducted a retrospective trial to determine if links exist between statin use and OS in women with uterine disease.

Nicole Nevadunsky

The study included 554 patients, 333 of whom were not hyperlipidemic, 165 of whom had lipidemia treated with statins and 56 of whom were hyperlipidemic without statin therapy.

Women in the statin group tended to be older, have diabetes and hypertension, and use beta blockers and aspirin.

Study groups were similar in terms of stage and grade of disease and chemotherapy regimen. More frequent radiation was reported in both hyperlipidemic groups.

An 84% reduction in hazard of death was observed among women taking both statins and aspirin compared with other subgroups (HR=0.16; 95% CI, 0.07-0.38). The association was significant (P<.01).

“This survival advantage is very provocative because many women take statins and aspirin,” Nevadunsky told HemOnc Today. “This might be able to help us understand the way these cancers work, so that we can prevent and treat them more effectively.”

Survival outcomes were better in both hyperlipidemic groups compared with those who did not have hyperlipidemia (P=.036).

The researchers stratified the hyperlipidemia groups by aspirin use. Results of this analysis indicated that aspirin use among women with hyperlipidemia was associated with significant improvements in survival compared with other aspirin users (P=.01).

Multivariate analysis results indicated a 45% decrease in hazard of death associated with statin use compared to women who did not have hyperlipidemia (HR=0.55; 95% CI, 0.35-0.87).

“We may be able to exploit that information to develop new and better treatments for these cancers,” Nevadunsky said. “It may help us figure out how and why certain women develop cancer and why some women’s cancers respond to treatment while other women may die from their disease.”

Aspirin use yielded better survival outcomes than non-aspirin use (HR=0.47; 95% CI, 0.29-0.76).

For more information:

Spoozak LA. #5592. Presented at: ASCO Annual Meeting; May 31-June 4, 2013; Chicago.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.