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Observational Study
. 2025 Feb;37(2):e13485.
doi: 10.1111/jne.13485. Epub 2024 Dec 26.

Impact of dyslipidemia and lipid-lowering therapy with statins in patients with neuroendocrine tumors

Antongiulio Faggiano  1 , Flaminia Russo  1 , Virginia Zamponi  1 , Franz Sesti  2 , Giulia Puliani  3 , Roberta Modica  4 , Pasqualino Malandrino  5 , Francesco Ferraù  6 , Maria Rinzivillo  7 , Marco Di Muzio  8 , Emanuele Di Simone  9 , Nicolò Panattoni  9 , Pasquale Dolce  10 , Rosa Lauretta  3 , Gianfranco Di Iasi  4 , Antonio Prinzi  5 , Ylenia Alessi  11 , Tiziana Feola  2   12 , Rossella Mazzilli  1 , Marialuisa Appetecchia  3 , Elisa Giannetta  2 , Francesco Panzuto  7 , Annamaria Colao  4   13
Affiliations
Observational Study

Impact of dyslipidemia and lipid-lowering therapy with statins in patients with neuroendocrine tumors

Antongiulio Faggiano et al. J Neuroendocrinol. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

Dyslipidemia is a potential unfavorable prognostic factor in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs); conversely, statins proved to have antiproliferative effects in NET cell lines and could be a helpful therapeutic strategy for these patients. The main objective of this observational cohort retrospective study is to explore the associations between dyslipidemia and NET progression and evaluate the potential influence of statins in this context. 393 patients with histologically confirmed gastroenteropancreatic or bronchopulmonary NETs from six Italian centres didicated to NET diagnosis and therapy were included. The cohort included 123 patients with dyslipidemia, 81 of which were taking statins. Clinicopathological data, including patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment details as well as the prevalence, timing of dyslipidemia and hypolipemic therapy were collected. The main outcome measure used is progression-free survival (PFS). Among the 393 patients, 123 (31.3%) had dyslipidemia. Statins were used by 81 (65.8%) dyslipidemic patients, mostly atorvastatin. Median PFS was 87 months overall, 124 months in non-dyslipidemic patients, and 72 months in dyslipidemic patients (p = .268). Dyslipidemic patients on statins had a significantly better median PFS (108 months) than those not on statins (26 months; p = .024). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was also evaluated, but no significant differences were found. In conclusion, while PFS was lower in dyslipidemic patients compared to non-dyslipidemic patients, the difference was not statistically significant. Statin therapy was associated with improved PFS among dyslipidemic patients, suggesting a potential antiproliferative effect of statins in NETs. These findings warrant further investigation to substantiate the role of statins in the management of NETs.

Keywords: dyslipidemia; lipid‐lowering therapy; neuroendocrine tumors; statins; tumor progression.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flowchart for patients considered for the study.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Kaplan–Meier survival curves of PFS between dyslipidemic and non‐dyslipidemic patients. PFS, progression‐free survival.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Kaplan–Meier survival curves of PFS between dyslipidemics on statins and dyslipidemics not receiving statins. PFS, progression‐free survival.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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