Search

Goals: Several cohort studies have reported inconsistent findings for the association between statin use and breast cancer recurrence. We investigated the effect of statin use on breast cancer recurrence using a meta-analysis of cohort studies. Methods: We searched MEDLINE (PubMed) and EMBASE in October 2014. Two evaluators independently reviewed and selected articles, based on pre-determined selection criteria. The primary endpoint was breast cancer recurrence, and the second endpoints were overall mortality and disease related mortality. Results: Out of 593 articles meeting our initial criteria, seven cohort studies (five for breast cancer recurrence and three for mortality) involving 77, 660 participants (13, 730 cases and 63, 930 controls) were included in the final analyses. In a fixed-effects meta-analysis of all the studies, breast cancer patients with statin use showed a decreased recurrence [hazard ratio (HR) 0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.70–0.90, I = 0%], compared with those without statin use. In the subgroup meta-analysis, lipophilic statins reduced the recurrence of breast cancer (HR 0.75, 95%CI 0.64–0.87, I = 0%), whereas hydrophilic statins did not (HR 1.12, 95%CI 0.79–1.59, I = 0%). Also, the longer use of statins reduced breast cancer recurrence (HR 0.81, 95%CI 0.69–0.95, I = 0% for more than 2 years of medication). However, statins did not reduce mortality (HR 0.81, 95%CI 0.54–1.19, I = 87.5% in overall mortality; HR 0.73, 95%CI 0.46– 1.14, I = 82.8% in disease related mortality). Conclusion: The current meta-analysis showed that statin use reduced the recurrence of breast cancer. More prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials providing a higher level of evidence are needed. Disclosure of Interest: This work was supported by the National Cancer Center, Republic of Korea [National Cancer Center Grant NCC-1210102].