A groundbreaking study led by researchers from the University of Sharjah and the Burjeel Cancer Institute has revealed that statins—commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering medications—may significantly improve survival outcomes in patients with certain blood cancers receiving modern targeted therapies.
The research, published in the prestigious journal Blood Advances, found that patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) who were taking statins when beginning treatment with targeted therapies such as ibrutinib experienced substantially better outcomes across multiple measures.
Significant Survival Benefits Observed
According to the analysis, statin users were 61% less likely to die from cancer, 38% less likely to die from any cause, and 26% less likely to experience disease progression compared to non-statin users. Importantly, researchers found no significant increase in severe adverse events associated with statin use, suggesting these medications maintain their established safety profile in this patient population.
The study represents the first systematic evaluation of the relationship between statin use and survival outcomes specifically in CLL/SLL patients receiving modern targeted therapies like Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors.
Dr. Ahmad Abuhelwa, the study's lead author, explained the significance of their findings: "This is the first systematic evaluation of the link between statin use and survival outcomes in patients with CLL or SLL receiving modern targeted therapies. Our study analyzed data from 1,467 patients enrolled in four international clinical trials conducted between 2012 and 2019."
Comprehensive Data Analysis
The research team examined data from four major randomized clinical trials—RESONATE, RESONATE-2, iLLUMINATE, and HELIOS—which collectively included 1,467 patients. Approximately 29% of these patients were using statins at the beginning of their cancer treatment.
Using adjusted statistical models, the researchers demonstrated that the survival benefits remained consistent across different treatment regimens and between patients diagnosed with either CLL or SLL. The adjusted hazard ratio for overall survival was 0.55 (P<0.001), for progression-free survival 0.73 (P=0.001), and for cancer-specific survival an impressive 0.39 (P=0.001).
Clinical Implications and Future Research
Despite the promising results, the researchers emphasize caution in interpreting the findings. Dr. Abuhelwa noted, "While these results are highly encouraging, we cannot recommend statins as a cancer treatment based on this study alone, as it is observational and does not establish causality. We need future clinical trials to confirm whether statins can be used as a supportive treatment in this setting."
Professor Humaid Al Shamsi, CEO of the Burjeel Cancer Institute and co-author of the study, highlighted the potential clinical significance: "As oncologists, we are always looking for safe and effective ways to improve patient survival. This study raises an exciting possibility—that a well-known and widely used medication like statins could enhance treatment outcomes without introducing additional risks."
Institutional Support and Global Recognition
Dr. Karem Alzoubi, Dean of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Sharjah, emphasized the institutional commitment behind such impactful research: "This outstanding research reflects our faculty's dedication to producing impactful scientific studies that address pressing healthcare challenges and contribute to innovative solutions for complex diseases like cancer."
He further noted the university's role in facilitating high-quality research: "The University of Sharjah places the highest importance on supporting scientific research, offering advanced infrastructure and state-of-the-art laboratories that enable our researchers to conduct world-class studies."
The study's findings have garnered significant international attention, being featured in leading global media outlets including The Telegraph, Daily Mail, The Independent, Associated Press, and Medscape. The research has been translated into multiple languages, reflecting its broad international impact and potential significance for blood cancer treatment strategies worldwide.
While these results suggest a promising avenue for improving outcomes in CLL and SLL patients, the researchers emphasize that dedicated prospective clinical trials are needed to definitively establish statins' role as adjunctive therapy in blood cancer treatment regimens.
