Abstract
Clinical studies have shown that statin use may alter the risk of lung cancer. However, these studies yielded different results. To quantify the association between statin use and risk of lung cancer, we performed a detailed meta-analysis. A literature search was carried out using MEDLINE, EMBASE and COCHRANE database between January 1966 and November 2012. Before meta-analysis, between-study heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using adequate statistical tests. Fixed-effect and random-effect models were used to calculate the pooled relative risks (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses, sensitivity analysis and cumulative meta-analysis were also performed. A total of 20 (five randomized controlled trials, eight cohorts, and seven case–control) studies contributed to the analysis. Pooled results indicated a non-significant decrease of total lung cancer risk among all statin users (RR = 0.89, 95% CI [0.78, 1.02]). Further, long-term statin use did not significantly decrease the risk of total lung cancer (RR = 0.80, 95% CI [0.39 , 1.64]). In our subgroup analyses, the results were not substantially affected by study design, participant ethnicity, or confounder adjustment. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability of results. The findings of this meta-analysis suggested that there was no significant association between statin use and risk of lung cancer. More studies, especially randomized controlled trials and high quality cohort studies are warranted to confirm this association.
Highlights
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide[1,2]
Several preclinical studies have shown that statins may have potential anticancer effects through arresting of cell cycle progression[7], inducing apotosis[8,9], suppressing angiogenesis[10,11], and inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis[12,13]
To better understand this issue, we carried out a meta -analysis of existing randomized controlled trials (RCT) and observational studies that investigated the association between statins use and the risk of developing lung cancer
Summary
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide[1,2]. The age-adjusted incidence rate of lung cancer was 62.6 per 100,000 men and women per year, and the ageadjusted death rate was 50.6 per 100,000 men and women per year[3]. 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) are the most commonly used drugs in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, which potently reduce plasma cholesterol levels. 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) are the most commonly used drugs in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, which potently reduce plasma cholesterol levels. Their efficacy on cardiovascular events has been proven irrefutably for both reduction of morbidity and mortality[4,5]. Some experimental studies have found that statin may induces apoptosis[14,15,16,17,18], inhibit tumor growth[19,20,21,22], angiogenesis[23], as well as metastasis[24]. To better understand this issue, we carried out a meta -analysis of existing randomized controlled trials (RCT) and observational studies that investigated the association between statins use and the risk of developing lung cancer
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