Statin Use and Breast Cancer Prognosis in Black and White Women

Studies show decreased risk of breast cancer recurrence and improved survival with statin use, but data on racial disparities regarding breast cancer prognosis and statin use are lacking. Our objective was to investigate if racial disparities in breast cancer prognosis can be partially explained by differences in pre-diagnosis statin use. Patients were identified from a prospective, multicenter study examining the effects of metabolic factors on breast cancer prognosis in Black and White women. Statin use, prognosis (as measured by Nottingham Prognostic Index), anthropometric, tumor, and socio-demographic characteristics were examined. Five hundred eighty-seven women (487 White, 100 Black) with newly diagnosed primary invasive breast cancer were recruited. Obesity was more prevalent in Black women than White women (47 vs 19%, p < 0.01); both groups had similar low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels (113 ± 41 vs 113 ± 36 mg/dl, p = 0.90). More Black women used statins than White women (18 vs 11%, p = 0.06). Black women had a worse prognosis in an adjusted model than White women (OR 2.13 95% CI 1.23–3.67). Statin use was not associated with prognosis in unadjusted (OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.53–2.0) and adjusted models (OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.56–2.31). In women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, Black women were more likely to be treated with statins than White women, contrary to previous studies. Black women had worse prognosis than White women, but this difference was not explained by differences in pre-diagnosis statin use. Our study suggests that differences in pre-diagnosis statin use do not contribute to racial disparities in breast cancer prognosis.