Cholesterol-lowering drugs don't help to fight cancer, a new review concludes.

Researchers in the U.S. analyzed the results of 26 studies involving more than 73,000 people taking the statins such as simivastatin (Zocor) and pravachol (pravastatin).

Statins are a best-selling type of drug.
Statins are a best-selling type of drug.

"In our current meta-analysis, statins did not reduce the incidence of cancer or cancer death," the authors report in the Jan. 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"No reductions were noted for cancers of the breast, colon, gastrointestinal tract, prostate, respiratory tract, or skin (melanoma) when statins were used."

It was thought statins might cut cancer risks by reducing inflammation or blocking how some cancer-causing genes work.

Previous research on animals and observational studies on humans suggested statins may help prevent certain cancers, but participants weren't randomly assigned to receive statins or a placebo.

Dr. Stephen Gruber of the University of Michigan and his colleagues studied randomized, placebo-controlled studies, which give the highest quality evidence for judging medical research. One weakness of the review is the studies did not all give the same details of the cancer history of patients.

Given the findings of the review and the potential side effects of statins, such as liver damage and muscle pain, the study's authors do not recommend prescribing statins to prevent cancer. They said it's not worth spending more time and money on the studies of cancer and statins.

"[I]t remains premature to conclude that a large chemoprevention trial with statins that is aimed at reducing colorectal cancer risk is warranted," agreed John McLaughlin of the Prosserman Centre for Health Research in Toronto in an editorial accompanying a related review of cholesterol lowering-drugs in general.

People taking statins to lower cholesterol and prevent heart attacks should continue to do so, said study author Michael White of the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy.

Watching diet and getting some exercise remain drug-free ways of lowering cholesterol.