Statins are one of the most widely-used drugs for lowering cholesterol and fighting cardiovascular disease. One big factor in its popularity is the fact that they have relatively few side effects, and therefore seem better able to ensure patient wellness and wellbeing. Cholesterol has a strong link to cancer; as well as being a vital building block in cell growth; it is a protein that can also be harnessed by cancer cells. Danish researchers took advantage of this connection in forming the premise of their study, searching through nearly 20 years of medical databases to seek a correlation. Their findings are based on a massive patient list of 18,000 out of 300,000 registered cancer patients who took Statins alongside their cancer treatment.
The results are significant enough to be taken seriously by the medical industry, and show a promising new direction in which to take cancer research. The Danish researchers responsible for the study are quick to urge caution, and claim that there are many intervening factors, such as cigarette smoking, that have not been taken account of. They state firmly that it is just the first piece of evidence in a chain of many necessary proofs. However, their research has clearly had a strong impact on Professor Michael Seckle of Imperial College London, who is now running a clinical trial to assess the benefits of Statins for patients with lung cancer. This new trial is called LungStar and has just recruited 1,300 satisfactory subjects who are ready to embark on the process. He has been sure to praise the Danish study for its helping in getting research into this area, as well as in providing more promise for the future of cancer research in this area.