Can Statins Prevent Cancer?

The Study

Chronic inflammation is known to be a major cause of cancer. A groundbreaking study out of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston was recently published that used both an animal model and an epidemiological study to show that statin drugs may block this inflammation and reduce the risk of developing cancer.

-In mice, a statin drug called Pitavastatin suppressed externally caused inflammation in the skin and pancreas and prevented inflammation dependent cancers.

-In humans, subjects taking Pitavastatin had a statistically significant reduced risk of pancreatic cancer. 

doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-48441-8

Take Home Message

Tens of millions of Americans are taking statins to lower their cholesterol and reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke. A surprising and beneficial side effect of these meds may be that they help reduce the risk of cancer. More research is needed here, but this is exciting news.