Abstract
Background
Cardiovascular disease affects over 7 million people in the UK and statins are often prescribed to mitigate cardiovascular risks. The effect of statins on a number of cancers is debated and their effect on Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) responsiveness in non-muscle invasive urinary bladder cancer (NMIBC) is not fully understood.
Aims
This study aims to explore the difference in HMG Co-A reductase (HMGCR) expression in NMIBC on immunochemistry in BCG responders and non-responders while on statins.
Method
Three hundred and thirty-two cases of intravesical BCG treatment for high-risk NMIBC between November 2003 and December 2017 were identified. Patients taking statins for at least 12 months before the diagnosis of NIMBC and with a follow-up of at least 5 years were included. They were divided into BCG responders and non-responders. Tumour tissue from these patients was immunohistochemically stained and quantitative image analysis carried out to assess and compare HMGCR expression in the groups.
Results & Conclusion
This study showed a differential expression of HMGCR in responders vs. non-responders to BCG for high-risk NMIBC on statins. This data should form the basis of a further research and multi-centre study in a larger cohort, using HMGCR as a biomarker of response in patients on statins.
Cardiovascular disease affects over 7 million people in the UK and statins are often prescribed to mitigate cardiovascular risks. The effect of statins on a number of cancers is debated and their effect on Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) responsiveness in non-muscle invasive urinary bladder cancer (NMIBC) is not fully understood.
Aims
This study aims to explore the difference in HMG Co-A reductase (HMGCR) expression in NMIBC on immunochemistry in BCG responders and non-responders while on statins.
Method
Three hundred and thirty-two cases of intravesical BCG treatment for high-risk NMIBC between November 2003 and December 2017 were identified. Patients taking statins for at least 12 months before the diagnosis of NIMBC and with a follow-up of at least 5 years were included. They were divided into BCG responders and non-responders. Tumour tissue from these patients was immunohistochemically stained and quantitative image analysis carried out to assess and compare HMGCR expression in the groups.
Results & Conclusion
This study showed a differential expression of HMGCR in responders vs. non-responders to BCG for high-risk NMIBC on statins. This data should form the basis of a further research and multi-centre study in a larger cohort, using HMGCR as a biomarker of response in patients on statins.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3-9 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Scottish Medical Journal |
| Volume | 69 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 13 Nov 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 2024 |
Keywords
- Urinary bladder
- cancer
- HMG co-reductase
- cholesterol
- BCG
