Table 1.
Characteristics of selected randomised controlled trials
| Trial | Location | Centre(s) | Number of patients | Recruitment period | Cancer | Intervention (DDD) | Duration of statin therapy (months) | Previous cancer therapy | Concomitant therapy | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandre et al. [21] | UK | 3 | 32 | Oct 2014–July 2016 | Oesophageal/GOJ adenocarcinoma | Simvastatin 40 mg (1.33) or Placebo | 9.6 | Yesb | Nil | Retention, Absorption, Adherence, OS, PFS, QoL |
| Jouve et al. [22] | France | 61 | 323 | March 2010–Nov 2013 | Hepatocellular Carcinoma | Pravastatin 40 mg (1.33), open label | 4.1Md | Yes | Chemotherapy (S) | OS, PFS, TTP, TTF, QoL |
| Lee et al. [23] | South Korea | 2 | 68 | Nov 2012–Sept 2015 | NA Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer | Simvastatin 40 mg (1.33), open label | NS | Yesc | Afatinib | OS, PFS, RR |
| Seckl et al. [24] | UK | 91 | 846 | Feb 2007–Jan 2012 | Small Cell Lung Cancer | Pravasatatin 40 mg (1.33) or placebo | 8.6Md | Nil | Chemotherapy (ET + C or CB) | OS, PFS, RR |
| El-Hamamsy et al. [25] | Egypt | 1 | 50 | April 2014–Oct 2015 | Brain metastases (various primariesa) | Simvastatin 80 mg (2.67), open label | 0.5 | NS | Whole brain radiotherapy | OS, PFS, Rad R |
| Lim et al. [26] | South Korea | 5 | 269 | April 2010–July 2013 | Colorectal Cancer | Simvastatin 40 mg (1.33) or Placebo | 3–4.5Md | Yesc | Chemotherapy (XELIRI/FOLFIRI) | OS, PFS, RR, TTP |
| Kim et al. [27] | South Korea | 9 | 244 | Feb 2009–Nov 2014 | Gastric/GOJ adenocarcinoma | Simvastatin 40 mg (1.33) or placebo | 4.43Md | Yesd | Chemotherapy (C + X) | OS, PFS, RR |
| Hong et al. [28] | South Korea | 4 | 114 | Dec 2008–April 2012 | Pancreatic cancer | Simvastatin 40 mg (1.33) or Placebo | NS | Nil | Chemotherapy (GC) | OS, RR, TTP, DCR |
| Han et al. [29] | South Korea | 1 | 106 | May 2006–Sept 2008 | Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer | Simvastatin 40 mg (1.33), open label | 8.6Md | Yes | Chemotherapy (GF) | OS, PFS, RR |
| Konings et al. [30] | Netherlands | 1 | 30 | Feb 2005–May 2009 | Gastric adenocarcinoma | Pravastatin 40 mg (1.33), open label | 3.5Mx | Nil | Chemotherapy (E, C + CB) | OS, PFS, RR |
| Kawata et al. [31] | Japan | 1 | 83 | Feb 1990–Jan 1993 | Hepatocellular Carcinoma | Pravastatin 40 mg (1.33), open label | 16.5Me | Nil | TACE +5FU | OS |
5FU 5-Flurouracil, C cisplatin, CB carboplatin, DCR disease control rate, DDD defined daily dose, DX dexamethasone, E epirubicin, ET etoposide, FOLFIRI 5-fluorouracil and irinotecan, GC gemcitabine, GOJ gastro-oesophageal junction, GF gefitanib, OS overall survival, Md median, Me mean, Mx maximum, NA non-adenocarcinomatous, NS not stated, PFS progression-free survival, QoL quality of life, RR response rate, Rad R radiological response, S sorafenib, TACE transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation, TTF time to treatment failure, TTP time to progression, THL thalidomide, X capecitabine, XELIRI regimen capecitabine plus irinotecan
aPrimary cancers were mostly breast and lung cancers (in 88% of patients)
b94% patients received prior chemotherapy
cAll patients received prior chemotherapy
d36.6% in statin group and 45.1% in control group received prior chemotherapy