Men presenting for radical prostatectomy on preoperative statin therapy have reduced serum prostate specific antigen

Studies have suggested that statin (3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) medication use may decrease prostate specific antigen in healthy men. We determined the effect of preoperative statin use on total preoperative prostate specific antigen and the risk of biochemical recurrence in patients with prostate cancer presenting for radical prostatectomy.

A retrospective review of 3,828 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy from January 2001 to July 2008 at our institution identified 1,031 on statin medications. We compared these 1,031 patients to the remaining 2,797 not on statins preoperatively. We evaluated differences in prostate specific antigen overall, and when patients were stratified by age specific groups, body mass index and Gleason grades on final pathology. We also investigated differences in biochemical recurrence rates.

Overall median serum prostate specific antigen was lower in patients on preoperative statins (5.0 vs 5.2 ng/ml, p = 0.002). Median prostate specific antigen was lower in men on statins with Gleason grades 7 or 8/9 disease (p <0.05). Using a multivariate logistic regression model statin therapy was associated with a 4.7% decrease in prostate specific antigen (p <0.001). Statin therapy was not associated with an overall decreased risk of biochemical recurrence (p = 0.73) at a mean followup of 26 months.

In this cohort of men presenting for radical prostatectomy serum prostate specific antigen is significantly lower in patients with prostate cancer on preoperative statins compared to those not taking these medications. Prospective studies are required to evaluate if this decrease in prostate specific antigen leads to later detection of prostate cancer or variations in oncological outcomes.