Statins may help prevent liver cancer in people with chronic hepatitis B

Results from a recent trial suggest that statins may reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and high cholesterol levels.The study was led by Dr. Dong Hyun Sinn and Dr. Danbee Kang and was published in BMC cancer

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Previously, no researchers had conducted randomized controlled trials to analyze the ability of statins to reduce the risk of liver cancer in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

The researchers conducted a simulation experiment study using the K-NHIS database, which represents the entire Korean population. The study analyzed data from 2,915 patients aged 40 to 84 years with chronic CHB and cholesterol levels of 200 mg/dL or higher who started statin therapy within the past 6 months. The researchers also reviewed data from 8,525 patients with chronic hepatitis B who were not receiving statin therapy and had cholesterol levels above 200 mg/dL.

Data were evaluated for HCC development, liver cancer or liver-related mortality, and all-cause mortality.

Of the 11,440 patients observed, 207 developed HCC. In the cohort of patients taking statins, the incidence of HCC was 0.2 cases per 1000 person-years. The incidence rate of HCC in the nonstatin group was 0.3 cases per 1000 person-years.

In the nonstatin cohort, the fully adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for developing HCC was 0.56 (95% CI, 0.39-0.80). The fully adjusted HR assessing the difference in liver cancer or liver-related mortality between the statin and nonstatin groups was 0.59 (95% CI, 0.35-0.99). The fully adjusted HR for all-cause mortality was 0.93 (95% CI, 0.78-1.11).

The researchers noted that statin use was associated with a lower risk of HCC in all subgroups evaluated.

“In summary, this study suggests that statins may help prevent liver cancer in patients with chronic hepatitis B who have elevated cholesterol levels,” the researchers wrote.

They also recommend that physicians prescribe statins for patients with chronic hepatitis B and dyslipidemia.