Differential and Joint Effects of Metformin and Statins on Overall Survival of Elderly Patients with Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: A Large Population-Based Study.

Authors

Jian-Yu E, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Shou-En Lu, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Yong Lin, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Judith M. Graber, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
David Rotter, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Lanjing Zhang, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey; University Medical Center of Princeton
Gloria M. Petersen, Mayo Clinic
Kitaw Demissie, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Grace Lu-Yao, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Xiang-Lin Tan, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2017

Comments

This article has been peer reviewed. It is the authors' final version prior to publication in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention

Volume 26, Issue 8, August 2017, Pages 1225-1232.

The published version is available at DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-17-0227. Copyright © American Association for Cancer Research

Abstract

Background: Published evidence indicates that individual use of metformin and statin is associated with reduced cancer mortality. However, their differential and joint effects on pancreatic cancer survival are inconclusive.Methods: We identified a large population-based cohort of 12,572 patients ages 65 years or older with primary pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) diagnosed between 2008 and 2011 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare-linked database. Exposure to metformin and statins was ascertained from Medicare Prescription Drug Event files. Cox proportional hazards models with time-varying covariates adjusted for propensity scores were used to assess the association while controlling for potential confounders.Results: Of 12,572 PDAC patients, 950 (7.56%) had used metformin alone, 4,506 (35.84%) had used statin alone, and 2,445 (19.45%) were dual users. Statin use was significantly associated with improved overall survival [HR, 0.94; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.90-0.98], and survival was more pronounced in postdiagnosis statin users (HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.56-0.86). Metformin use was not significantly associated with overall survival (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.94-1.09). No beneficial effect was observed for dual users (HR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.95-1.05).Conclusions: Our findings suggest potential benefits of statins on improving survival among elderly PDAC patients; further prospective studies are warranted to corroborate the putative benefit of statin therapy in pancreatic cancer.Impact: Although more studies are needed to confirm our findings, our data add to the body of evidence on potential anticancer effects of statins. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(8); 1225-32. ©2017 AACR.

Recommended Citation

E, Jian-Yu; Lu, Shou-En; Lin, Yong; Graber, Judith M.; Rotter, David; Zhang, Lanjing; Petersen, Gloria M.; Demissie, Kitaw; Lu-Yao, Grace; and Tan, Xiang-Lin, "Differential and Joint Effects of Metformin and Statins on Overall Survival of Elderly Patients with Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: A Large Population-Based Study." (2017). Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers. Paper 71.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/medoncfp/71

PubMed ID

28619830