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Cancer
Statins, aspirin may hide prostate cancer
- By Harvard Prostate Knowledge
Most men learn that they have prostate cancer after a blood test shows elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, prompting a biopsy. A high or rising PSA can also signal the return of cancer following surgery or radiation therapy. Drugs that artificially lower PSA levels could, at least in theory, obscure elevations that offer early warnings of a problem.
One recent study linked the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins to reduced PSA levels. Researchers looked at PSA levels among 1,214 military veterans before and after they started taking a statin. With statins, the median decline in PSA was 4.1%, and changes in PSA were strongly associated with the statin dose and changes in LDL cholesterol, the “bad” cholesterol.
In another study, presented at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research last fall, Vanderbilt University researchers reported that participants in the Nashville Men’s Health Study who regularly took aspirin had PSA levels that were 9% lower on average than those in men who didn’t take aspirin. (Data from this trial have not yet been published in a scientific or medical journal.)
The changes in PSA in these studies weren’t large. But researchers expressed concern that the drugs could mask fluctuations in PSA that might interfere with the detection of prostate cancer. Another tantalizing possibility is that statins and aspirin fight prostate cancer. But it would take some very large, very long trials to determine if that is the reason for the decrease in PSA.
Given these findings, make sure to tell your urologist if you are taking statins, aspirin, or both. Also, track changes in your PSA over time to help ensure you aren’t harboring prostate cancer.
SOURCE: Hamilton RJ, Goldberg KC, Platz EA, Freedland SJ. The Influence of Statin Medications on Prostate-Specific Antigen Levels. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2008;100:1511–18. PMID: 18957682
Originally published September 2010; last reviewed March 16, 2011.
About the Author
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No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
Comments
We can put a man and woman on the moon, but we cannot agree prostrate.treatments. I had 4 biopsies from 2010 to 2015. The last two were saturation biopsies, 25 cores taken with each. Was put in active survelliance, Gleason score 3+3. Recent routine fusion MRI found that 2 lesions present in 3015 MRI and biopsy…were not seen…the one remaining was stable, the final outcome was labeled equivocal for PC. Unfortunately PSA elevated from 24 2015 to 36.1. April 2017. The doctor s are recommending.another biopsy, I’m not persuaded it’s necessary given that I’m in otherwise good health at 71 with hypertension that’s controlled with daily medications. I suspect it’s the enlarged prostrate is, BPH, but they say the MRI image shows clear pelvic area and urine samples negative for bacteria. Or my other fear is the prostrate us injured resulting from biopsies. My doctor’s are all well known in the field of urology at a Government ran facility. I’d.appreciate any feed back. Cheers!
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