Chemoembolization Combined with Pravastatin Improves Survival in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background/Aims: Pravastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme
A reductase inhibitor, has been shown to inhibit growth and to
induce apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.
However, the potential benefit of pravastatin in HCC patients has
still not been characterized, which prompted us to test the
efficacy of pravastatin in patients with advanced HCC. Methods: We
investigated prospectively a cohort of 183 HCC patients who had
been selected for palliative treatment by transarterial
chemoembolization (TACE). Fifty-two patients received TACE combined
with pravastatin (20-40 mg/day) and 131 patients received
chemoembolization alone. Six independent predictors of survival
according to the Vienna survival model for HCC were equally
distributed in both groups. Results: During the observation period
of up to 5 years, 31 (23.7%) out of 131 patients treated by TACE
alone and 19 (36.5%) out of 52 patients treated by TACE and
pravastatin survived. Median survival was significantly longer in
HCC patients treated by TACE and pravastatin (20.9 months, 95% Cl
15.5-26.3, p = 0.003) than in HCC patients treated by TACE alone
(12.0 months, 95% Cl 10.3-13.7). Conclusion: Combined treatment of
chemoembolization and pravastatin improves survival of patients
with advanced HCC in comparison to patients receiving
chemoembolization alone. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel