Takeaway
- Statin use commenced before and continued after melanoma diagnosis may reduce the risk of disease recurrence.
- This protective effect was more pronounced in male patients and those with ulcerated primary melanomas.
- Findings warrant further evaluation of the potential role of statins in improving the prognosis of high-risk melanoma.
Study design
- This prospective study included 700 patients with tumour stage T1b-T4 primary cutaneous melanoma (mean age 62 years, 59% male, 28% with ulcerated tumours) between 2010 and 2014.
- Association between long-term statin use and melanoma recurrence was evaluated.
- Funding: National Health and Medical Research Council.
- 94 (13%) patients developed melanoma recurrence within 2 years of diagnosis.
- Long-term statin users (n=204) vs non-users had a significantly lower risk of melanoma recurrence within 2 years of diagnosis, irrespective of statin subtype or potency (adjusted HR [aHR], 0.55; 95% CI, 0.32-0.97).
- The risk of recurrence was significantly reduced in statin users with ulcerated tumours (HR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.05-0.52), but not in statin users with non-ulcerated tumours (HR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.46-1.81).
- Similarly, male statin users vs non-users were at a significantly lower risk of recurrence (HR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.19-0.79) but not women statin users vs non-users (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.29-2.27).
- Relatively short follow-up period.
- Lack of dose-response relationship between statin use and melanoma recurrence.
References
References
