Khurana V et al. (2007) Statins might reduce risk of renal cell carcinoma in humans: case–control study of 500,000 veterans. Urology 71: 118–122

Statins have been reported to have anticancer activity in various urological cancers, including bladder and prostate cancer. Khurana and colleagues have used data from the US South Central Veterans Integrated Service Network (a veterans' health care system that covers eight US states) to investigate the effect of statin use on the incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In total, 483,733 individuals who visited this health care system from October 1998 to June 2004 were included in the retrospective case–control study.

A primary diagnosis of RCC was identified in 1,446 patients (0.30%). Statin use was recorded in 164,441 patients; 432 (0.26%) of these individuals subsequently developed RCC, compared with 1,014 (0.32%) of those who were not taking statins. After adjustment for age, ethnicity, sex, BMI and smoking status, patients taking statins were only half as likely as those who were not on these agents to develop RCC (odds ratio 0.52, 95% CI 0.45–0.60). This reduction in risk was seen irrespective of age, BMI or smoking status.

The authors conclude that statin use was independently associated with a reduced likelihood of developing RCC. As with other types of cancer, randomized controlled trials will be necessary to confirm the effect of statins in the prevention and treatment of RCC.