A Retrospective Analysis of Statin Use and Outcome After Thoracic Cancer Surgery

There is data to support an association between impaired preoperative endothelial function and adverse postoperative outcome. This study will investigate the potential association between perioperative statin use and improved perioperative and long-term cancer outcome amongst thoracic surgery patients undergoing lung or esophageal resection.

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Key information

Conditions

Esophagectomy Digestive System Diseases Digestive System Neoplasms Esophageal Diseases Esophageal Neoplasms Gastrointestinal Diseases Gastrointestinal Neoplasms Head and Neck Neoplasms Lung Diseases Lung Neoplasms Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Pulmonary Lobectomy Pulmonary Pneumonectomy Pulmonary Wedge Resection Respiratory Tract Diseases Respiratory Tract Neoplasms Thoracic Neoplasms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

About this study

Statins are well established for the use of primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Moreover, there is increasing evidence that statins have numerous effects separate from their lipid lowering properties-pleiotropic effects. These pleiotropic effects, including a reduction in the inflammatory response and improved endothelial function, may improve perioperative outcomes via modulation of the surgical stress response. Improved perioperative outcomes have been demonstrated in patients undergoing vascular, cardiac and non-cardiovascular surgery. Specific to the thoracic surgery population, statin use has been reported to reduce the incidence of atrial fibrillation.

Statins, via inhibition of the rate limiting step of the mevalonate pathway, have also sparked interest in their potential anticancer effects as well as in cancer prevention. There is some evidence for anticancer effects of statins in patients with esophageal and lung cancer. Additionally, other agents with known anti-inflammatory effects also point to the potential for improved outcome in cancer patients. In this regard, aspirin use is reported to associate with prolonged survival in breast cancer patients, while perioperative use of anti-inflammatory agents (COX-II inhibitor use and lung cancer; aprotinin use and mesothelioma; aprotinin use and esophageal cancer) is associated with improved postoperative survival. Moreover, the use of regional analgesia is commonly employed in the thoracic surgery population and has been associated with attenuation of metastasis and improvement in recurrence rates for some types of cancers.

In a prospective pilot study of patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery, a collaborative member of our group recently found that patients suffering postoperative complications had poorer endothelial function, as measured by flow mediated dilation. Those patients with poorer endothelial function had greater wound healing complications (6% vs. 0%, p=0.01), longer ICU length of stay (4 vs. 0.9 days, p=0.02), and longer hospital length of stay (14 vs. 6.9 days, p=0.01). Although this pilot study was underpowered to demonstrate a significant correlation between Brachial Artery Reactivity Testing (BART) derived endothelial function and "all" postoperative complications, it provides hypothesis generating data and supports the hypothesis that statins, as modulators of endothelial function, may have a role in improving postoperative outcome.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

This study is a retrospective chart review of adult thoracic surgery patients who underwent:

Esophagectomy
Pulmonary wedge resection
Pulmonary lobectomy
Pulmonary pneumonectomy

Data collected will be from January 1, 2007 forward

Exclusion criteria

None

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Effect of perioperative statin use on in-hospital morbidity after thoracic cancer surgery

Secondary outcomes

Effect of perioperative statin use on the development of Major Adverse Pulmonary Events (MAPE)

Time frame: 30 days after initial surgery

Includes acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary embolus, respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and pneumonia
Effect of perioperative statin use and the development of Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE)

Time frame: 30 days after initial surgery

Includes atrial fibrillation, other arrhythmia, myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure.
Effect of perioperative statin on mortality associated with cancer recurrence following thoracic cancer surgery.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2010
Primary completion: 2012
Study completion: 2012
First posted: Jul 23, 2010
Registry last updated: Jun 1, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed