Statins Used for Possible Cancer Prevention

At the present time, numerous technological and medical advancements are gradually leading to a complete cure to cancer. On November 7,2012, in an article titled, “Statins May Lower Risk of Cancer Death” from The Huffington Post, Monte Morin reported about a possible treatment for cancer. Statins, a class of drugs, are used to lower cholesterol levels in the liver. Research suggests that this drug may also be lowering a person’s risk of death from cancer. Thousands of Americans already use statins to improve their cardiovascular health by lowering cholesterol levels. Cholesterol helps to build and maintain cell membranes, and is essential for their proliferation. Therefore, when cholesterol production is limited, the ability of cancer cells to uncontrollably reproduce is diminished. The National Cancer Institute warned patients to not use statins for cancer prevention purposes unless they have participated in a clinical trial. Sune F. Neilson, a biochemist, made an analysis of more than 5.5 million people in Denmark. He concluded his findings by stating, “Regular statin use before and after a diagnosis of cancer could theoretically reduce cancer-related mortality” (The Huffington Post). This article is important because not only does it inform about new treatments for cancer, but also it introduces a new class of drugs, statins, as a treatment for other medical troubles. Based on a study in a clinical trial, it is believed that statins can help treat melanoma.