Latest news with #Abuhelwa
The National
29-04-2025
- Health
- The National
UAE research shows cholesterol-busting statins could improve cancer care
Blood cancer patients could face better survival rates if they take common cholesterol-reducing drugs alongside other treatments, new UAE research has found. A study by the University of Sharjah found a 61 per cent lower risk of death within five years in 1,467 leukaemia patients who took statins during their cancer treatment. In four separate clinical trials between 2012 and 2019, around one third of participants diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) were also taking statins to treat other health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and hypertension. As well as significantly reduced mortality, researchers also found the risk of their disease progressing among patients on statins was reduced by 26 per cent. Doctors called for more research to further investigate the effects of statins on cancer, and said the findings could open the door to more affordable and accessible treatments to complement medical efforts to treat leukaemia, and other cancers. 'Beyond their effect on lowering cholesterol, statins have been known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects,' said Dr Ahmad Abuhelwa, an assistant professor of pharmacy practice and pharmacotherapeutics at the University of Sharjah who led the study. 'They've also been shown in lab studies to disrupt cancer cell survival pathways and induce cancer cell death. The significance of this is that because statins are widely available, affordable and well-tolerated medications. We're hoping this will open the door for future research into drug repurposing as a cost-effective strategy to improve cancer outcomes. 'If future prospective clinical trials confirm their benefits, then statins could become an easy and cost-effective way to improve survival in patients with CLL. We're hoping this will spark future research looking at how statins affect other types of cancers, like breast, colon or lung cancer.' The clinical trials assessed were not specifically searching for the effects of statins. But as many of the cancer patients surveyed were over 60 and had been prescribed the drug to treat existing co-morbidities, scientists could also evaluate the impact of statins on their survival. There are four main types of leukaemia: acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). They account for around 3 per cent of cancer deaths worldwide. A Global Burden of Disease study carried across three decades showed an increased incidence of CLL, with 100,000 new cases and 40,000 related deaths in 2019. Survival rates vary, with around 67 per cent of people diagnosed with leukaemia living beyond five years in the US, while that number rises to 88 per cent in cases of CLL. 'On average, patients with cancer take seven medications to treat comorbidities or side effects,' said Dr Abuhelwa. 'Patients are often worried whether medications like statins could negatively impact their treatment. 'What we're seeing here is statins being a positive prognostic factor, so it's actually on the good side, not bad. It's important to reassure patients that such concurrent medications are not harmful and can actually provide a dual benefit.' One study analysing patients listed at the Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) leukaemia registry reported CLL accounted for only about 3 per cent of leukaemia cases treated there. In contrast, CLL is the most common leukaemia in adults living in Western populations, often accounting for 25-35 per cent of all leukaemias. Dr Humaid Al Shamsi, head of Emirates Oncology Society and chief executive of Burjeel Cancer Institute, said the research was significant and could pave the way for further developments in the use of statins. 'The key finding is that patients with CLL or SLL who were taking statins when starting treatments like ibrutinib had significantly better outcomes,' he said. 'The study identified statin use as an independent positive prognostic factor, meaning this benefit was observed even after accounting for other factors like age, disease characteristics and other medications. "Importantly, this survival benefit was seen regardless of whether the patient was receiving ibrutinib or other comparison treatments used in the trials, and no significant increase in severe side effects.' The study found the anti-inflammatory effects of statins could influence the micro-environment of a cancerous tumour, while enhancing the impact of certain drugs used to treat CLL, such as venetoclax. A pooled analysis of the research was peer reviewed and published on April 23, following a long period of data acquisition and statistical analysis. Despite the positive signs, Dr Al Shamsi said further research was required before the findings would directly change clinical practice for treating leukaemia. 'While the results are promising and suggest statins might be beneficial, this study was retrospective, as it looked back at patients who happened to be taking statins for other reasons, like high cholesterol,' he said. 'It shows an association, but doesn't definitively prove causation. To confirm these findings and understand if actively prescribing statins improves outcomes, prospective randomised controlled trials (RCTs) would be needed. 'In such trials, patients would be randomly assigned to receive a statin or a placebo alongside their cancer treatment, allowing for a more direct assessment of the statin's effect.'
Arab Times
24-04-2025
- Health
- Arab Times
Popular heart medication may cut cancer death risk by 60%: study
LONDON, April 24: Cholesterol-lowering statins, taken by millions worldwide, may significantly reduce the risk of death from a common type of blood cancer, new research suggests. Scientists in the United Arab Emirates tracked 1,467 patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), both slow-growing cancers affecting white blood cells. The study found that patients taking statins had a 61% lower risk of dying from their cancer compared to those not on the medication. Published in the journal Blood Advances, the observational study also showed a 38% lower risk of death from any cause and a 26% reduced risk of disease progression among statin users. 'These findings highlight a strong link between statin use and improved survival,' said Dr. Ahmad Abuhelwa, assistant professor of pharmacotherapeutics at the University of Sharjah. However, he cautioned, 'We can't say for certain that statins directly improve cancer outcomes. Future clinical trials are needed.' Statins are the UK's most-prescribed drug, with over 70 million packs dispensed annually. Originally developed to reduce heart disease by lowering levels of LDL or "bad" cholesterol, they are now also used to prevent heart attacks and strokes in at-risk individuals. The new study adds to growing evidence suggesting that statins may offer protective effects against various cancers, including breast, liver, stomach, and bowel. In this trial, patients were randomly assigned to receive either ibrutinib—a common CLL/SLL therapy—alone, in combination with other drugs, or other non-ibrutinib treatments. About one-third of the participants were already on statins when their cancer treatment began. The average patient age was 65, and follow-up lasted about five years. Despite the promising results, researchers acknowledged the study's limitations. 'We could not determine the effects of specific statin types, doses, or duration of use on patient outcomes,' they wrote. CLL and SLL are diagnosed in approximately 4,500 people in the UK each year and are more common in men. While often manageable, they are rarely cured entirely, with treatments focused on long-term disease control. Dr. Abuhelwa emphasized that while the results are encouraging, they do not support starting statins solely for cancer treatment at this stage. 'More research is essential to confirm a direct benefit,' he said.
Telegraph
23-04-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Leukaemia patients have 61 per cent lower death risk with statins
Blood cancer patients have a 61 per cent lower risk of death if they take statins with treatment, a study has suggested. About 4,500 people a year are diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) and just under 1,000 will die. But research suggests that statins could be a cheap way to dramatically reduce death rates. Statins primarily lower cholesterol levels but they also improve overall blood vessel function which can help the immune system and appear to have anti-inflammatory effects. Researchers from the United Arab Emirates analysed the medical records of 1,467 patients with CLL or SLL who took part in four clinical trials between 2012 and 2019. About one third of the trial participants were also, unrelatedly, taking a statin, and were found to have a significantly lower risk of death within five years. 'A strong link' Patients who took a statin had, on average, a 61 per cent reduced risk of dying from their cancer, a 38 per cent reduced risk of death from any cause, as well as a 26 per cent reduced risk of disease progression. 'This is the first systematic evaluation of the association of statin use with survival outcomes in patients with CLL or SLL who have been treated with contemporary targeted agents such as ibrutinib,' said Dr Ahmad Abuhelwa, assistant professor of pharmacy practice and pharmacotherapeutics at the University of Sharjah in the UAE. 'Our results highlight a strong link between statin use and improved survival in this patient population.' CLL is a slow-growing cancer that starts in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow and is one of the most common forms of leukaemia. SLL, also a slow-growing cancer, affects the same type of cells as CLL but starts in lymphoid tissues such as the spleen instead of in the blood-forming cells. Around 12 per cent of patients would be expected to die within five years of diagnosis with either condition, which suggests that statins could help that fall to around 5 per cent. It is unknown why statins may aid survival, although several studies have shown that drugs which improve overall health can help to keep other major diseases at bay. The research also found taking statins on top of cancer medication did not cause any severe or life-threatening side effects, suggesting they could be a safe addition to treatment. 'These findings don't allow us to say for certain that statins directly improve cancer outcomes,' added Dr Abuhelwa. 'However, the fact that this association remained strong even after accounting for multiple factors makes it an important area for future research.' It is estimated there are already around seven to eight million adults in Britain taking statins, making them one of the most prescribed medications. The team has now called for clinical trials in which patients with CLL or SLL are randomly assigned to take a statin or not. The research was published in the journal Blood Advances.
