Cholesterol-lowering statins could help tackle breast cancer

A new study by researchers from Imperial College London suggests statins could help fight hard-to-treat cancers. The research, published today , reveals that tumours rely heavily on cholesterol for growth. Cholesterol-lowering statins - which are currently prescribed to around 30 million people worldwide, can block this supply - causing it to 'starve' and die. The team behind the research focused on oestrogen-receptor positive breast cancers. These make up over 70 per cent of all breast cancers, and are fuelled by the hormone oestrogen, which binds to the oestrogen receptor inside cancer cells where triggers growth. These cancers are usually treated with surgery to remove the tumour, followed by a course of targeted chemotherapy. However, many cancers eventually become resistant to these treatments - and so patients see their cancer return - although it is unknown why.