Statins might fight spread of pancreatic cancer

[Guest guest]

Statins might fight spread of pancreatic cancer

By Faith Reidenbach

NEW YORK, Mar 29 (Reuters Health) - Statins, a family of drugs that

lower cholesterol, might also have a role in the treatment of

pancreatic

cancer, Japanese researchers report.

Pancreatic cancer typically has a poor prognosis, with less than 1% of

patients living for 5 years after diagnosis. Until the tumor grows

large, there are no symptoms, and the cancer usually spreads to the

lymph nodes, liver or lungs before it can be detected.

The Japanese team discovered, in a study of mice, that the spread of

pancreatic cancer cells to the liver was significantly reduced by a

statin called Lescol (fluvastatin). Only 10 of 12 mice (83%) treated

with Lescol developed liver cancer, versus 100% of 9 untreated mice.

Even when Lescol-treated mice did develop cancerous liver nodules,

they

had an average of 6, versus 25 in the untreated mice.

The mice started receiving Lescol before they had cancer. But a second

set of experiments showed that Lescol was also effective when mice

were

treated after pancreatic cancer had spread to the liver, a scenario

more

likely to occur in humans. The research team, led by Dr. Toshiyuki

Kusama, published its findings in a recent issue of the medical

journal

Gastroenterology.

Why should a drug that lowers cholesterol also stop the spread of

cancer? Statins reduce cholesterol levels because they block an enzyme

called HMG-CoA, which the liver needs to form cholesterol. The

scientists showed in a laboratory experiment that HMG-CoA has another

role in the body: it is necessary for proper functioning of epidermal

growth factor, a substance that helps pancreatic cancer cells invade

other organs and grow into tumors.

In a commentary, Dr. Roland Schmid of the University of Ulm, Germany,

suggests that statins might be a useful add-on therapy for pancreatic

cancer patients after surgery. But he expresses doubt that statins

alone

would be helpful, because pancreatic cancer would be well established

before treatment started.

In an interview with Reuters Health, Kusama agreed, but pointed out

that

in a previous animal study by other scientists, a statin called Zocor

(simvastatin) enhanced the effect of cancer chemotherapy. " It might be

worth testing the combined use of a statin and chemotherapeutic

agents "

in patients who have advanced pancreatic cancer that has spread to the

liver, according to Kusama, who is a biochemist at the Osaka Medical

Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases.

Much more study is needed before statins can be recommended as

anticancer drugs, Kusama cautioned. Still, the Japanese team points

out

that a statin called Pravachol (pravastatin) prolonged survival in

patients with one type of liver cancer. And Schmid reports that in

laboratory studies, statins have been able to kill some types of

cancer

cells directly, and there is evidence that they block formation of the

blood vessels that feed tumor growth.

Perhaps one day some individuals will take a statin simply for

prevention of cancer, Schmid comments. He notes that in one drug

trial,

patients taking a statin were 28% less likely to develop cancer than

patients who did not. The study was not designed expressly for the

purpose of looking at the anticancer effect of statins, so other

research would be needed to confirm the finding, but " this approach

might be worth pursuing, " Schmid concludes.

SOURCE: Gastroenterology 2002;122:308-317, 565-567.

--- End forwarded message ---

[Guest guest]

Statins might fight spread of pancreatic cancer

By Faith Reidenbach

NEW YORK, Mar 29 (Reuters Health) - Statins, a family of drugs that

lower cholesterol, might also have a role in the treatment of pancreatic

cancer, Japanese researchers report.

Pancreatic cancer typically has a poor prognosis, with less than 1% of

patients living for 5 years after diagnosis. Until the tumor grows

large, there are no symptoms, and the cancer usually spreads to the

lymph nodes, liver or lungs before it can be detected.

The Japanese team discovered, in a study of mice, that the spread of

pancreatic cancer cells to the liver was significantly reduced by a

statin called Lescol (fluvastatin). Only 10 of 12 mice (83%) treated

with Lescol developed liver cancer, versus 100% of 9 untreated mice.

Even when Lescol-treated mice did develop cancerous liver nodules, they

had an average of 6, versus 25 in the untreated mice.

The mice started receiving Lescol before they had cancer. But a second

set of experiments showed that Lescol was also effective when mice were

treated after pancreatic cancer had spread to the liver, a scenario more

likely to occur in humans. The research team, led by Dr. Toshiyuki

Kusama, published its findings in a recent issue of the medical journal

Gastroenterology.

Why should a drug that lowers cholesterol also stop the spread of

cancer? Statins reduce cholesterol levels because they block an enzyme

called HMG-CoA, which the liver needs to form cholesterol. The

scientists showed in a laboratory experiment that HMG-CoA has another

role in the body: it is necessary for proper functioning of epidermal

growth factor, a substance that helps pancreatic cancer cells invade

other organs and grow into tumors.

In a commentary, Dr. Roland Schmid of the University of Ulm, Germany,

suggests that statins might be a useful add-on therapy for pancreatic

cancer patients after surgery. But he expresses doubt that statins alone

would be helpful, because pancreatic cancer would be well established

before treatment started.

In an interview with Reuters Health, Kusama agreed, but pointed out that

in a previous animal study by other scientists, a statin called Zocor

(simvastatin) enhanced the effect of cancer chemotherapy. " It might be

worth testing the combined use of a statin and chemotherapeutic agents "

in patients who have advanced pancreatic cancer that has spread to the

liver, according to Kusama, who is a biochemist at the Osaka Medical

Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases.

Much more study is needed before statins can be recommended as

anticancer drugs, Kusama cautioned. Still, the Japanese team points out

that a statin called Pravachol (pravastatin) prolonged survival in

patients with one type of liver cancer. And Schmid reports that in

laboratory studies, statins have been able to kill some types of cancer

cells directly, and there is evidence that they block formation of the

blood vessels that feed tumor growth.

Perhaps one day some individuals will take a statin simply for

prevention of cancer, Schmid comments. He notes that in one drug trial,

patients taking a statin were 28% less likely to develop cancer than

patients who did not. The study was not designed expressly for the

purpose of looking at the anticancer effect of statins, so other

research would be needed to confirm the finding, but " this approach

might be worth pursuing, " Schmid concludes.

SOURCE: Gastroenterology 2002;122:308-317, 565-567.