Statins may interfere with cancer genes

Patients who took statins had a 51% lower risk of developing colon cancer than those who did not take the drugs.

And a second study showed a similar effect on cutting prostate cancer risk. The research, by the University of Michigan and Oregon Health & Science University, was presented at meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Statins greatly reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack and may help patients with diabetes, multiple sclerosis and even Alzheimer's disease.

They work by blocking the action of an enzyme that enables the liver to produce cholesterol.

But there is also some evidence that they may disrupt the growth of cancer cells.

Early stages

However, Dr Stephen Gruber, who lead the colon cancer research, said it was too early to say for sure that the drugs also prevent cancer.

He said his findings were based on questionnaires, rather than strict scientific controls.

Doctors would be reluctant to prescribe statins solely for cancer prevention until hard evidence is made available, as the drugs can, in rare cases, cause muscle and liver problems.

Dr Gruber's team, working in Israel, looked at 1,708 people who had colon cancer and 1,737 who did not.

Taking statins for at least five years seemed to cut the risk of colon cancer by around a half.

Dr Gruber said it was possible that statins interfere with a number of genes that promote tumour growth.

Another theory is that the drugs could ward off the disease by lowering inflammation.

Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in men, and the second most common among women in the UK.

Prostate study

The Oregon team compared the records of 222 men who underwent biopsies for prostate cancer, with 208 men who showed no signs of the disease.

Men who had taken a cumulative dose of more than 19 grams of statins had lower risk of prostate cancer.

There are more than 18,700 new cases of colon cancer in men, and more than 16,800 cases in women each year.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with more than 24,700 new cases a year.

Dr Lesley Walker, of Cancer Research UK, said: "Although these are interesting results, much larger controlled studies looking at the effect of statins on cancer risk are needed before any recommendations can be made."

Jola Gore-Booth, chief executive of Colon Cancer Concern, said: "Although evidence is not strong enough to recommend taking statins alone to reduce cancer risk, this is certainly an exciting development in the research field of bowel cancer prevention."