David Brill
Evidence is growing to suggest that statins could help to maintain a healthy prostate – protecting against both benign and malignant disease.
Recent studies have found that statins lowered the risk of developing prostate cancer, reduced the aggressiveness of cancers, and reduced the risk of cancer recurrence after surgery.
Other reports have suggested that the drugs can protect against lower urinary tract (LUT) symptoms, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and even erectile dysfunction.
Researchers, however, are urging caution, saying that further studies are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.
Six key studies were presented recently at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) in Chicago, US. Three come from a single cohort of 2,447 men aged 40 to 79, who have been followed since 1990 by researchers at the Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, US.
The first study found that men who were taking statins were three times less likely to develop prostate cancer than non-users. Just 6 percent of statin users developed cancer over a median of 14.1 years of follow-up – a considerable reduction compared to the US national average, which sees around 17 percent of all men diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
The second study, which included only 1,480 of the men, found that statins reduced the risk of erectile dysfunction in those aged over 60. This apparent protective effect increased over time – men who had been taking statins for 9 years or more were 64 percent less likely to develop the condition than men not taking statins, whereas those taking statins for less than 3 years were equally as likely.
A third analysis of the Mayo Clinic cohort, meanwhile, reported that statin users had a 57 percent reduction in risk of developing BPH, and a 63 percent risk reduction for developing LUT problems.
"If you are taking a statin for a heart condition or to lower cholesterol, these studies suggest that statins could have other benefits," said one of the study authors Dr. Jennifer St. Sauver, an epidemiologist at the Mayo Clinic. "However, it's very clear we need more information before men are advised to start taking statins for their urological health."
The fourth study presented at the AUA meeting found that men taking statins at the time of radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer were 30 percent less likely to have a recurrence. They also had lower prostate-specific antigen levels than non-users, and were more likely to have T1-stage disease. The study included 1,325 men, of whom 237 were taking statins at the time of surgery.
“Our findings suggest that statins may slow prostate cancer progression after radical prostatectomy," said study author Dr. Robert Hamilton, of the University of Toronto, Canada.
“Although the results of these studies are exciting, they need to be confirmed,” he added. “At this point we cannot say with confidence that statins reduce the risk of prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy."
The fifth study, led by Johns Hopkins University, US, found that prostate cancer was less aggressive in statin users than non-users. Of 1,282 men who underwent radical prostatectomy over 5 years, the 418 who were taking statins had lower tumor volume, lower prevalence of positive surgical margins, and lower percentage of cancer in their prostatectomy specimens.
The final study, meanwhile, suggests that statins might exert their beneficial effects by reducing inflammation within prostate tumors. Researchers from Duke University Medical Center, US, examined specimens from 254 men who had undergone radical prostatectomy, and found that inflammation was reduced by 72 percent in statin users compared to non-users.
Despite the positive results presented at the AUA, not all studies have shown benefits of statins of prostate cancer outcomes. One paper published earlier this year found that statin usage had no effect on progression-free survival after radiotherapy for prostate cancer. [Urology 2009 Jan;73(1):158-62. Epub 2008 Aug 22]
Some researchers have even suggested that statins could actually increase prostate cancer, and have called for further attention to be given to the issue. [Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008 Feb;17(2):459]
Recent studies have found that statins lowered the risk of developing prostate cancer, reduced the aggressiveness of cancers, and reduced the risk of cancer recurrence after surgery.
Other reports have suggested that the drugs can protect against lower urinary tract (LUT) symptoms, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and even erectile dysfunction.
Researchers, however, are urging caution, saying that further studies are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.
Six key studies were presented recently at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) in Chicago, US. Three come from a single cohort of 2,447 men aged 40 to 79, who have been followed since 1990 by researchers at the Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, US.
The first study found that men who were taking statins were three times less likely to develop prostate cancer than non-users. Just 6 percent of statin users developed cancer over a median of 14.1 years of follow-up – a considerable reduction compared to the US national average, which sees around 17 percent of all men diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
The second study, which included only 1,480 of the men, found that statins reduced the risk of erectile dysfunction in those aged over 60. This apparent protective effect increased over time – men who had been taking statins for 9 years or more were 64 percent less likely to develop the condition than men not taking statins, whereas those taking statins for less than 3 years were equally as likely.
A third analysis of the Mayo Clinic cohort, meanwhile, reported that statin users had a 57 percent reduction in risk of developing BPH, and a 63 percent risk reduction for developing LUT problems.
"If you are taking a statin for a heart condition or to lower cholesterol, these studies suggest that statins could have other benefits," said one of the study authors Dr. Jennifer St. Sauver, an epidemiologist at the Mayo Clinic. "However, it's very clear we need more information before men are advised to start taking statins for their urological health."
The fourth study presented at the AUA meeting found that men taking statins at the time of radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer were 30 percent less likely to have a recurrence. They also had lower prostate-specific antigen levels than non-users, and were more likely to have T1-stage disease. The study included 1,325 men, of whom 237 were taking statins at the time of surgery.
“Our findings suggest that statins may slow prostate cancer progression after radical prostatectomy," said study author Dr. Robert Hamilton, of the University of Toronto, Canada.
“Although the results of these studies are exciting, they need to be confirmed,” he added. “At this point we cannot say with confidence that statins reduce the risk of prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy."
The fifth study, led by Johns Hopkins University, US, found that prostate cancer was less aggressive in statin users than non-users. Of 1,282 men who underwent radical prostatectomy over 5 years, the 418 who were taking statins had lower tumor volume, lower prevalence of positive surgical margins, and lower percentage of cancer in their prostatectomy specimens.
The final study, meanwhile, suggests that statins might exert their beneficial effects by reducing inflammation within prostate tumors. Researchers from Duke University Medical Center, US, examined specimens from 254 men who had undergone radical prostatectomy, and found that inflammation was reduced by 72 percent in statin users compared to non-users.
Despite the positive results presented at the AUA, not all studies have shown benefits of statins of prostate cancer outcomes. One paper published earlier this year found that statin usage had no effect on progression-free survival after radiotherapy for prostate cancer. [Urology 2009 Jan;73(1):158-62. Epub 2008 Aug 22]
Some researchers have even suggested that statins could actually increase prostate cancer, and have called for further attention to be given to the issue. [Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008 Feb;17(2):459]
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