In a new study, researchers found that statins, common cholesterol-lowering medications, may protect women’s hearts from damage caused during chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer.
The research was conducted by a team at the University of Toronto.
Two types of cancer medications, anthracyclines and trastuzumab, are effective treatments for many women with breast cancer.
However, the risk of heart muscle damage has limited their use, particularly in women who are at higher risk for heart problems because of their age or other medical issues.
The mechanisms for these medications are essential to kill breast cancer cells, however, these processes can also damage the cells of the heart muscle, leading to weakening of the heart.
Previous small studies have suggested that women taking statins may have less heart muscle damage from these types of chemotherapy.
The exact mechanisms of how statins protect against cardiac cell damage remain unknown. It is believed that statins have antioxidative and anti-inflammatory actions.
In the study, the team used several health databases in Ontario, Canada, to review the occurrence of heart failure in women ages 66 and older who received anthracyclines or trastuzumab for newly diagnosed early-stage breast cancer between 2007 and 2017.
Each woman already taking statins was matched with a peer who was not taking statins as well as a variety of medical and social background factors.
The two groups were compared to understand how many required hospitalizations or an emergency room visit for heart failure within the five years after chemotherapy.
None had previously been diagnosed with heart failure.
Researchers found in the 666 pairs of women treated with anthracyclines, those taking statins were 55% less likely to be treated at the hospital for heart failure.
In the 390 pairs of women treated with trastuzumab, those taking statins were 54% less likely to be treated at the hospital for heart failure, a trend that did not reach statistical significance.
The findings support the idea that statins may be a potential intervention for preventing heart failure in patients receiving chemotherapy with anthracyclines and potentially trastuzumab.
The team says for women with breast cancer who meet established indications for taking a statin, they should ideally continue taking it throughout their chemotherapy treatment.
Women who do not have an indication for a statin should ask their health care team if they can join a clinical trial studying the benefits of statins in protecting against heart muscle damage during chemotherapy.
Otherwise, they should focus on measures to optimize their cardiovascular health before, during and after chemotherapy.
One author of the study is Husam Abdel-Qadir, M.D., Ph.D.
The study is published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
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