A new analysis of clinical trial data has revealed that statin use significantly enhances survival outcomes in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) undergoing treatment with ibrutinib, a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor.
Researchers examined data from four major randomised trials; RESONATE, RESONATE-2, iLLUMINATE, and HELIOS, encompassing 1,467 patients, 29% of whom were using statins at the start of treatment. Adjusted statistical models showed that statin users experienced markedly improved overall survival (aHR 0.55, P<0.001), progression-free survival (aHR 0.73, P=0.001), and cancer-specific survival (aHR 0.39, P=0.001).
Notably, these survival benefits were consistent across patients treated with ibrutinib and other regimens, as well as between those diagnosed with CLL and SLL. There was no significant increase in severe (grade ≥3) adverse events linked to statin use, suggesting the drugs are both effective and well tolerated in this context.
This study is the first to show a clear, independent prognostic advantage of statins in CLL/SLL patients receiving modern targeted therapies. While previous research has suggested anti-cancer benefits of statins, their role alongside BTK inhibitors had not been fully explored until now.
Researchers caution that further investigation is needed to confirm these findings and understand the mechanisms at play. The promising results could inform future treatment strategies and encourage more integrated approaches to cancer and cardiovascular care.
Reference
Abuhelwa AY et al. Statin use and survival in SLL/CLL treated with ibrutinib: Pooled analysis of four randomized controlled trials. Blood Adv. 2025; 10.1182/bloodadvances.2024015287.
