One of UK’s most prescribed drugs could reduce death rate of common blood cancer
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Commonly prescribed drug could boost cancer survival rate
- A study has found that statin use is linked to a significantly reduced risk of death in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).
- Researchers analysed data from 1,467 patients across four international trials and found that those taking statins had a 61 per cent lower risk of dying from their cancer.
- The study also showed a 38 per cent reduction in all-cause mortality and a 26 per cent reduced risk of disease progression in statin users.
- While the study highlights a strong association, further research is needed to determine if statins directly improve cancer outcomes.
- Future research will involve laboratory studies to understand how statins affect cancer biology and clinical trials to assess the direct impact of statin use on CLL and SLL patients.