Statins Protect Against Acute RT-related Rectal Toxicity in Patients with Prostate Cancer: An Observational Prospective Study

Abstract

In patients with prostate cancer treated with a moderate hypofractionated IMRT schedule, use of statins lowered the incidence and grade of acute rectal toxicity.

Clinical and Biological Factors Related to Survival in Patients with Rectal Cancer

“…In line with our clinical observation, simvastatin increased the effect of RT in a preclinical study [162]. Interestingly, in addition to their proposed radiosensitising properties, statins were reported to exhibit a protective effect against RT-related toxicity [163]. Thus statins may have the potential to improve survival and at the same time enhance the quality of life in older rectal cancer patients who receive RT.…”

Statin Use and Cancer Incidence in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Network Meta-Analysis

“…A growing number of studies have suggested statin-related potential for reducing the risk of cancer [ 16 – 18 ]. A lot of evidence has also shown its beneficial effects in cancers, including prostate, breast, lung, and colorectal cancers [ 19 – 22 ]. Experimental results in vitro have suggested the effect of statins on growth, migration, apoptosis, and autophagy of cancer cells [ 23 – 25 ].…”

Tomotherapy-based moderate hypofractionation for localized prostate cancer: a mono-institutional analysis

“…Statins might act as anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory agents inhibiting pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory cytokines, thus leading to the remodeling of the microenvironment of the irradiated tissue, eventually reducing the burden of radiation injury [17][18][19]. Recently, Palumbo et al [20] reported that statins were an independent factor associated with the reduction of acute GI toxicity in 195 patients treated with IMRT for localized PCa. The protective effect of ADT on the intestinal tissue, which has been demonstrated in animal models [21] as well as in clinical studies [22][23][24], could depend on the reduction of radiation-induced cytokines and pro-inflammatory molecules (i.e., IL-6, NFkB, TGFβ) [21] within the irradiated rectal wall in patients under androgen deprivation.…”