Are statins carcinogenic?

Based on the available scientific evidence, statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs such as simvastatin, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin) are not classified as carcinogenic.

Large-scale studies have shown no convincing evidence that statin use increases the risk of cancer. In some cases, studies even suggest that statins may have a protective effect against certain cancers.

Some observational studies have found modest associations between statin use and a reduced risk of certain cancers, such as breast, prostate, and colon cancer. However, it remains unclear whether these are direct effects of statins or indirect consequences of improved cardiovascular health and anti-inflammatory effects.

Long-term statin use (more than 10 years) has not been shown to consistently increase the risk of cancer in studies. However, some studies have indicated that long-term statin use may affect certain cancers in rare cases, although this association is not strong or convincing.

A number of studies suggest that statins have anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties, which could mean that they reduce the risk of certain cancers or slow the growth of cancer cells. However, this effect is still the subject of further research.

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-53252-4

Source: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1517/14740331003662620

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2024-09-30 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2025