LDL-lowering therapy and the risk of prostate cancer: a meta-analysis of 6 randomized controlled trials and 36 observational studies

The role of statins in preventing prostate cancer is currently a controversial issue. The aim of this review is to investigate the effects of statins use on prostate cancer risk. Electronic databases (the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov) were searched systematically up to April, 2015. Weighted averages were reported as relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Statistic heterogeneity scores were assessed with the standard Cochran’s Q test and I(2) statistic. The pooled estimates of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and retrospective studies suggest that statins have a neutral effect on total prostate cancer (RR = 1·02, 95% CI: 0·90–1·14; and RR = 0·91, 95% CI: 0·79–1·02, respectively). This research provides no evidence to suggest that the use of statins for cholesterol lowering is beneficial for the prevention of low-grade or localized prostate cancer, although a plausible association between statins use and the reduction risk of advanced (RR = 0·87, 95% CI: 0·82–0·91) or high-grade prostate cancer (RR = 0·83, 95% CI: 0·66–0·99) is observed. Furthermore, it shows that prostate cancer risk does not statistically significant benefit from long-term statins use.