Statins reduce the cardiotoxic effect of chemotherapy

Scientists from Canada have reported that older women, who received anthracycline treatment for their early mammary gland cancer and also took statins, had a lower rate of hospitalization for heart failure associated with the cardiotoxic effects of chemotherapy compared to those who did not take such drugs.

Anthracyclines are a class of chemotherapeutic agents widely used before and after breast cancer surgery; Trastuzumab belongs to the newest class of cancer drugs and is a monoclonal antibody to the HER2 receptor. Scientists from the University of Toronto have conducted a retrospective study and found a relationship between breast cancer drugs and statins. The study involved 2,545 women, who received anthracycline (859 took statins concomitantly) and 1371 women, who received trastuzumab (520 took statins). Based on the results, the researchers have reported that the overall rate of hospitalizations for heart failure among women, who received anthracyclines was lower compared to those who received statin therapy concurrently. Based on the study’s results, anthracyclines-induced cardiotoxicity is mediated by topoisomerase-2 beta inhibition and oxidative stress and may play a role in trastuzumab-mediated cardiotoxicity.

Source: HEALIO