Commentary on “Impact of statin use on oncologic outcomes in patients with urothelial carcinoma ofthe bladder treated with radical cystectomy.” da Silva RD, Xylinas E, Kluth L, Crivelli JJ, Chrystal J, Chade D, Guglielmetti GB, Pycha A, Lotan Y, Karakiewicz PI, Sun M, Fajkovic H, Zerbib M, Scherr DS, Shariat SF, Department of Urology and Division of Medical Oncology, Weill

Abstract

PurposeStatins are cholesterol lowering agents used to prevent cardiovascular disease. Evidence suggests a dichotomous effect of statins with cancer inhibiting and promoting properties. To our knowledge the effect of statins on the prognosis of muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder remains uninvestigated to date. We tested the hypothesis that statin use impacts oncological outcomes in patients treated with radical cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. Materials and methodsWe retrospectively evaluated the records of 1,502 patients treated with radical cystectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy without neoadjuvant therapy at a total of 4 institutions. Cox regression models were used to determine the association of statins with disease recurrence and cancer specific mortality. ResultsA total of 642 patients (42.7%) were on statins. At a median followup of 34 months 509 patients (33.9%) experienced disease recurrence and 402 (26.8%) had died of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. Statin users were older (p = 0.003), had a higher body mass index (median 32 vs 28 kg/m(2), p <0.001) and were more likely to have positive soft tissue surgical margins (9% vs 4%, p<0.001). On univariable Cox regression analysis statins, female gender, advanced age, higher body mass index, smoking status, tumor stage, tumor grade, soft tissue surgical margin status, lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis and adjuvant chemotherapy were associated with disease recurrence (p≤0.05) and cancer specific mortality (p≤0.02). On multivariable Cox regression analysis statin use was not associated with either outcome. ConclusionsStatin users were at higher risk for disease recurrence and cancer specific mortality on univariable but not multivariable analysis. These data do not support modification of statin use in patients with high risk urothelial carcinoma of the bladder who will be treated with radical cystectomy.