HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, NSAIDs and risk of glioma

Ferris J et al. – The inverse association between statin therapy and risk of glioma supports the roles of Ras/Rho GTPases or inflammatory cytokines in gliomagenesis, and similar relationship between nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and glioma highlights the importance of cyclo-oxygenase-2 in glioma pathogenesis.

Methods

• The authors evaluated the use of nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the risk of the tumors.
• They recruited newly diagnosed glioma cases and frequency matched controls at Columbia University and the University of California San Francisco.
• Standardized questions on statins and NSAIDs were used at both institutions.
• Intakes of these drugs were defined as >6months of at least twice weekly use versus less than this amount or never use.
• From July 2007 to January 2010, they recruited a total of 517 cases and 400 controls.

Results

• Simvastatin and lovastatin showed significant inverse associations with glioma (OR=0.49, 95% CI 0.30, 0.81 and OR=0.47, 95% CI 0.24, 0.93, respectively).
• In NSAIDs, aspirin use was also inversely related to glioma risk (OR=0.68, 95% CI 0.49, 0.96).
• Both statins and NSAIDs showed significant inverse trends between duration of drug use and glioma risks (trend tests p=0.03 and p=0.02, respectively), and drug intake >120months demonstrated the most significant associations for both types of medication.

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