Statins may help survival in early stage breast cancer

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-06-03 01:00

New Zealand; International

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People who take cholesterol-lowering statins after being diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer may have a higher chance of survival, according to international and NZ research. The study of over 700 patients found that patients with early hormone receptor–positive breast cancer who started on statins after their diagnosis had lower chances of dying.

News release

From: JAMA

Statin Use and Survival in Early Breast Cancer According to Different Intrinsic Subtypes

About The Study: In this cohort study of patients with early breast cancer, prediagnostic statin use was not associated with higher survival; however, postdiagnostic statin use was associated with lower all-cause and breast cancer–specific mortality among patients with hormone receptor–positive intrinsic subtypes. These findings suggest that statin therapy may improve survival of patients with early hormone receptor–positive subtypes.

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Research JAMA, Web page Please link to the article in online versions of your report (the URL will go live after the embargo ends).

Journal/
conference: JAMA Network Open

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Tampere University Hospital, Finland, Waikato Hospital

Funder: Open access funding was provided by Tampere University. This study was supported by the Competitive State Research Financing of the Expert Responsibility area of Tampere University Hospital State funding for university level health research. Dr Arponen is the recipient of grants from the Osk. Huttunen Foundation, Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, Relander Foundation, Finnish Medical Foundation, Cancer Foundation Finland, Research Council of Finland, and Orion Research Foundation

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