Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2019 Aug;8(4):442-450.
doi: 10.1089/jayao.2017.0075. Epub 2017 Aug 30.

The Effect of Atorvastatin on Vascular Function and Structure in Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Clinical Trial

Kara L Marlatt  1 , Julia Steinberger  2 , Kyle D Rudser  3 , Donald R Dengel  2   4 , Karim T Sadak  2 , Jill L Lee  2 , Anne H Blaes  5   6 , Daniel A Duprez  6 , Joanna L Perkins  5 , Julie A Ross  2 , Aaron S Kelly  2   6
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The Effect of Atorvastatin on Vascular Function and Structure in Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Clinical Trial

Kara L Marlatt et al. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol. 2019 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: Many adult survivors of childhood cancer are at high-risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Cancer therapy may cause damage to the vascular endothelium, thereby initiating atherosclerosis. Atorvastatin has been shown to improve endothelial function independent of reducing cholesterol, as well as reduce/slow arterial stiffness and thickening, yet has never been studied in childhood cancer survivors (CCS). Methods: Twenty-seven young adult (age 26.8 ± 6.2 years) survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia or Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were randomly assigned (1:1) 40 mg/day of atorvastatin or placebo for 6 months. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), small artery reactive hyperemia index (RHI), arterial stiffness, and carotid artery elasticity/thickness were assessed. Results: Fifteen participants completed the trial. No significant treatment effect for any vascular outcomes was observed at 6 months; however, a significant decrease in peak FMD (-3.0 [95% confidence interval [CI]: -5.3, -0.7]) and a trending significant decrease in RHI (-0.3 [95% CI: -0.62, 0.01]) was observed in the placebo group, resulting in a trend toward a treatment effects (p < 0.10). No effect on arterial stiffness, carotid arterial elasticity, or thickness was observed. Conclusion: Six months of atorvastatin treatment did not improve endothelial function or arterial stiffness in young adult CCS. While a trend toward an improvement in endothelial function was present, findings should be interpreted with caution owing to the small number of evaluable participants and subsequent lack of sufficient power. Further research in a larger sample size is needed to fully elucidate the effects of atorvastatin on vascular function. Trial registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01733953.

Keywords: cardiovascular; statin; trial; vascular.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

No competing financial interests exist.

Figures

<b>FIG. 1.</b>
FIG. 1.
CONSORT diagram summarizing participant throughput within the trial.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

    1. Ries LAG, Smith MA, Gurney JG, et al. . Cancer incidence and survival among children and adolescents: United States SEER program 1975–1995. SEER Pediatric Monograph. Bethesda, MD: Nattional Cancer Institute; 1999
    1. Smith MA, Ries LAG. Childhood cancer: incidence, survival, and mortality. In: Pizzo PAI, Poplack DG. (Eds). Principles and practice of pediatric oncology (fourth edition). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2002; pp. 1–12
    1. Ries LAG, Eisner MP, Kosary CL. SEER cancer statistics review 1975–2000. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute; 2003
    1. Linabery AM, Ross JA. Childhood and adolescent cancer survival in the US by race and ethnicity for the diagnostic period 1975–1999. Cancer. 2008;113(9):2575–96 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Oeffinger KC, Mertens AC, Skylar CA, et al. . Chronic health conditions in adult survivors of childhood cancer. N Engl J Med. 2006;355:1572–82 - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Associated data