Prevention & lipidsMeta-analysis
Association of cancer incidence and cancer-related mortality with statin therapy, ezetimibe, and statin–ezetimibe combination: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
- random-effects Bayesian models
Node-splitting: no significant inconsistency between direct and indirect evidence
Authors' conclusion
In this network meta-analysis of randomized trials, statin therapy across all intensities and ezetimibe, alone or in combination, were not associated with an increased risk of cancer incidence or cancer-related mortality, supporting their oncologic safety within the duration of follow-up available in randomized clinical trials.
Study context
- Population
- RCTs comparing statins, statin–ezetimibe or ezetimibe with no lipid-lowering therapy or statin intensities head-to-head; searched through February 2026
- Participants
- 238,533 participants · 69 RCTs
- Comparison
- Statins (by intensity), statin plus ezetimibe or ezetimibe alone vs no lipid-lowering therapy
- Ezetimibe alonen = 3,411
- Outcome
- Cancer incidence and cancer-related mortality
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Cancer incidence
Each group vs no-LLTRelative risk (95% CrI)
High-intensity statins
0.95(0.87–1.03)
Moderate-intensity statins
1.01(0.96–1.05)
Low-intensity statins
1.06(0.72–1.61)
Moderate-intensity statin plus ezetimibe
1.04(0.96–1.14)
Further pooled results
| Outcome | RR (95% CrI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cancer mortality — High-intensity statins vs no-LLT · CrI | 0.94 (0.79–1.09) | |
| Cancer mortality — Moderate-intensity statins vs no-LLT · CrI | 1.00 (0.92–1.08) | |
| Cancer mortality — Low-intensity statins vs no-LLT · CrI | 1.70 (0.50–6.06) | |
| Cancer mortality — Moderate-intensity statin plus ezetimibe vs no-LLT · CrI | 1.12 (0.97–1.32) | |
| Cancer mortality — Ezetimibe alone vs no-LLT · CrI | 1.32 (0.82–2.15) | |
| 0.10.31310Relative risk (log scale) |
- Cancer mortality: 95% CrI
Head-to-head comparisons among active treatments
- All null; 95% credible intervals (CrIs) crossing 1.0
Cancer subtypes (lung, breast, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, hematological, skin, CNS)
- No significant differences across treatment strategies
Original publication
Association of cancer incidence and cancer-related mortality with statin therapy, ezetimibe, and statin–ezetimibe combination: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 28 July 2026. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwag392
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it