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Statin use and risk of contralateral breast cancer : an updated cohort study with landmark analysis

Skriver, Charlotte LU ; Corn, Giulia ; Viuff, Jakob H ; Cronin-Fenton, Deirdre ; Borgquist, Signe LU ; Alkner, Sara LU ; Rydén, Lisa LU orcid ; Manjer, Jonas LU ; Heyman, Ylva LU orcid and Jensen, Maj-Britt R , et al. (2026) In European Journal of Epidemiology
Abstract

Statins may have anti-cancer effects against breast cancer, but evidence regarding their influence on the risk of contralateral breast cancer (CBC) remains inconclusive. In this updated study, incorporating a larger sample, extended follow-up, and landmark analyses, we reevaluated the association between post-diagnosis statin use and CBC incidence among women with breast cancer. Utilising the Danish Breast Cancer Group clinical database, we ascertained data on a nationwide cohort of women aged ≥ 20 years and diagnosed with primary invasive unilateral breast cancer between 1996 and 2019. Data on tumour characteristics, drug use, primary breast cancer therapy, and socioeconomic parameters were retrieved from nationwide health and... (More)

Statins may have anti-cancer effects against breast cancer, but evidence regarding their influence on the risk of contralateral breast cancer (CBC) remains inconclusive. In this updated study, incorporating a larger sample, extended follow-up, and landmark analyses, we reevaluated the association between post-diagnosis statin use and CBC incidence among women with breast cancer. Utilising the Danish Breast Cancer Group clinical database, we ascertained data on a nationwide cohort of women aged ≥ 20 years and diagnosed with primary invasive unilateral breast cancer between 1996 and 2019. Data on tumour characteristics, drug use, primary breast cancer therapy, and socioeconomic parameters were retrieved from nationwide health and administrative registries. Using Cox regression, we estimated multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CBC through 2021 associated with post-diagnosis statin use (≥ 1 prescription) defined at landmark time points of 1, 5, and 10 years after first primary breast cancer. Follow-up began at each respective landmark. Among 77,675 women with breast cancer, 2758 were diagnosed with CBC during median follow-up of 7.2 years (interquartile range 3.4-12.0 years) from the 1-year landmark. Post-diagnosis statin use was not associated with the rate of CBC at any of the landmarks (1-year: HR, 1.01; 95% CI 0.88-1.16; 5-year: 1.08; 0.95-1.24; 10-year: 0.95; 0.80-1.12). Additionally, we observed no consistent trends with duration or consistency of post-diagnosis statin use. Stratification by oestrogen receptor status and pre-diagnosis statin use had no substantial influence on the associations. In conclusion, our study did not support an inverse association between statin use and CBC incidence following a breast cancer diagnosis.

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publication status
epub
subject
in
European Journal of Epidemiology
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • pmid:41849088
ISSN
1573-7284
DOI
10.1007/s10654-026-01364-8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© 2026. Springer Nature B.V.
id
ba6bf441-f5b0-4fa9-9e40-15c3ee8141c3
date added to LUP
2026-03-19 09:15:29
date last changed
2026-03-19 09:15:29
@article{ba6bf441-f5b0-4fa9-9e40-15c3ee8141c3,
  abstract     = {{<p>Statins may have anti-cancer effects against breast cancer, but evidence regarding their influence on the risk of contralateral breast cancer (CBC) remains inconclusive. In this updated study, incorporating a larger sample, extended follow-up, and landmark analyses, we reevaluated the association between post-diagnosis statin use and CBC incidence among women with breast cancer. Utilising the Danish Breast Cancer Group clinical database, we ascertained data on a nationwide cohort of women aged ≥ 20 years and diagnosed with primary invasive unilateral breast cancer between 1996 and 2019. Data on tumour characteristics, drug use, primary breast cancer therapy, and socioeconomic parameters were retrieved from nationwide health and administrative registries. Using Cox regression, we estimated multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CBC through 2021 associated with post-diagnosis statin use (≥ 1 prescription) defined at landmark time points of 1, 5, and 10 years after first primary breast cancer. Follow-up began at each respective landmark. Among 77,675 women with breast cancer, 2758 were diagnosed with CBC during median follow-up of 7.2 years (interquartile range 3.4-12.0 years) from the 1-year landmark. Post-diagnosis statin use was not associated with the rate of CBC at any of the landmarks (1-year: HR, 1.01; 95% CI 0.88-1.16; 5-year: 1.08; 0.95-1.24; 10-year: 0.95; 0.80-1.12). Additionally, we observed no consistent trends with duration or consistency of post-diagnosis statin use. Stratification by oestrogen receptor status and pre-diagnosis statin use had no substantial influence on the associations. In conclusion, our study did not support an inverse association between statin use and CBC incidence following a breast cancer diagnosis.</p>}},
  author       = {{Skriver, Charlotte and Corn, Giulia and Viuff, Jakob H and Cronin-Fenton, Deirdre and Borgquist, Signe and Alkner, Sara and Rydén, Lisa and Manjer, Jonas and Heyman, Ylva and Jensen, Maj-Britt R and Ejlertsen, Bent and Kroman, Niels and Rosthøj, Susanne and Friis, Søren and Mellemkjær, Lene}},
  issn         = {{1573-7284}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Epidemiology}},
  title        = {{Statin use and risk of contralateral breast cancer : an updated cohort study with landmark analysis}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10654-026-01364-8}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10654-026-01364-8}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}