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Statins may reduce risk of Prostate Cancer  

In this study, researchers followed the 2,447 men for over 15 years and discovered that men taking statins were less likely to develop prostate cancer, compared to men who did not take statins.

Of the statin users, 38 (6 percent) were diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Comparatively, non-statin users were three times more likely to develop prostate cancer, suggesting statin use may prevent development of prostate cancer.

“In recent years, it has been suggested that statin medications may prevent development of cancer.

"However, until now, there has been limited evidence to support this theory,” says Rodney Breau, M.D., a Mayo Clinic urologic oncology fellow who led the study.

“Our research provides evidence that statin use is associated with a threefold reduced risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer.”

Statin medications are currently used to lower cholesterol or to help prevent heart attack and stroke in high-risk patients. In the laboratory setting, researchers have observed that statin medications prevent cancer cells from dividing and, in fact, may cause some cancer cells to die.

“In the United States, one in six men will develop prostate cancer; however, far more will develop heart disease,” says Jeffrey Karnes, M.D., Mayo Clinic urologist and senior author on the study.

“I tell my patients to take care of their heart -- because what’s good for the heart is also good for the prostate.”

The investigators emphasize that these results are preliminary. To determine if statins are protective for prostate cancer, randomized controlled trials are necessary, says Dr. Karnes.