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Abstract Details
Meta-analysis: Chemoprevention of hepatocellular carcinoma with statins, aspirin and metformin
Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2023 Mar;57(6):600-609. doi: 10.1111/apt.17371.Epub 2023 Jan 10.
1Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
2Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
3National University Centre for Organ Transplantation, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
4Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
6The Catholic University Liver Research Centre, Seoul, Korea.
7Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
8Yonsei Liver Center, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
9Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California, USA.
10NAFLD Research Center, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.
Abstract
Background: Emerging data suggest that statins, aspirin and metformin may protect against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. However, prior meta-analyses were limited by heterogeneity and inclusion of studies without adequate adjustment for baseline risks.
Aim: To examine by an updated meta-analysis the association between these medications and HCC risk.
Methods: Medline and Embase databases were searched from inception to March 2022 for studies that balanced baseline risks between study groups via propensity score matching or inverse probability of treatment weighting, that reported the impact of statins, aspirin or metformin on HCC risk. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for HCC were pooled using a random effects model.
Results: Statin use was associated with reduced HCC risk overall (HR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.37-0.72) (10 studies, 1,774,476), and in subgroup analyses for cirrhosis, hepatitis B/C, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, studies accounting for concurrent aspirin and metformin consumption and lipophilic statins. Aspirin use was associated with reduced HCC risk overall (HR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.27-0.87) (11 studies, 2,190,285 patients) but not in studies accounting for concurrent statin and metformin use. Metformin use was not associated with reduced HCC risk overall (HR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.31-1.06) (3 studies, 125,458 patients). Most analyses had moderate/substantial heterogeneity, except in follow-up <60 months for aspirin (I2 = 0%).
Conclusion: Although statin and aspirin use were associated with reduced HCC risk, only statin use was significant in subgroup analyses accounting for concurrent medications. Metformin use was not associated with reduced HCC risk. These data have implications for future clinical trial design.