Researchers affiliated with the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Portland, Oregon, have reported that statin use lowers the incidence of total prostate cancer and more aggressive forms of prostate cancer. The details of this retrospective analysis were published in the January 2006 issue of the Journal of Urology.

Most, but not all, studies of statin use have found a lower incidence of prostate cancer in users versus non users. Some studies have also suggested that statins affect survival after therapy for prostate cancer.

Researchers in this study performed a case-control study of patients treated between 1997 and 2004. They identified 100 men with prostate cancer of whom 36% were users of statins. The control group consisted of 202 men with normal PSA tests of which 49% were users of statins. They reported that there was a 68% reduction in the overall risk of prostate cancer and a 76% reduction in the risk of prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 7 or greater.

Comments:  These data seem to corroborate other studies reported below in related news. The mechanism of action of statins is unknown, but one article suggests a direct action on PSA production.

Reference: Shannon J, Tewoderos S, Garzotto M, et al. Statins and prostate cancer risk: a case control study. Journal of Urology . 2006;175:153.

Related news:

Statins Lower Prostate Specific Antigen Levels in Middle Aged Males Without Prostate Cancer (6/8/2005)

Statin Use Associated with Decreased Incidence of Prostate, Lung and Breast Cancer (5/31/2005)

Statin Use Does Not Affect Cancer Incidence or Cancer Mortality (8/30/2004)

Statin Use Associated with Improved Outcome Of Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer (10/21/2003)