The association between inflammatory biomarkers and statin use among patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

• Published in: Head & neck Vol. 44; no. 6; pp. 1393 - 1403
• Main Authors: Getz, Kayla R., Bellile, Emily, Zarins, Katie R., Chinn, Steven B., Taylor, Jeremy M. G., Rozek, Laura S., Wolf, Gregory T., Mondul, Alison M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.06.2022; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Biomarkers; Biomarkers, Tumor; Cholesterol; Cytokines; epidemiology; Head & neck cancer; head and neck cancer; Head and neck carcinoma; Head and Neck Neoplasms - complications; Head and Neck Neoplasms - drug therapy; HPV; Human papillomavirus; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Inflammation; Lymphocytes; Medical records; Papillomaviridae; Papillomavirus Infections - complications; Patients; Prognosis; Regression analysis; Squamous cell carcinoma; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck - complications; Statins; epidemiology; head and neck cancer; inflammation; biomarkers; HPV
• ISSN: 1043-3074; 1097-0347
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.27040

Background Tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and cytokines are associated with prognosis among patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Statins (cholesterol‐lowering drugs) may improve HNSCC prognosis, particularly in human papillomavirus (HPV)‐positive cases, but the mechanism remains unclear. Methods Statin use was collected from medical records for HNSCC cases (2008–2014). TILs were counted in tumor tissue, and a total weighted score (TILws) was created. Cytokines were measured in blood. The associations between statins and biomarkers were estimated using logistic (biomarker categories: <median, ≥median) and linear regression models (log‐transformed continuous biomarkers) adjusted for age, smoking, and comorbidities. Results We observed a positive association between statins and TILs among HPV‐positive patients (TILws odds ratio [OR] = 2.80; 95% CI = 1.03–7.61), but no association among HPV‐negative patients. We observed no association between statins and cytokines. Conclusions Statins may influence TILs in HPV‐positive patients. This may be the mechanism through which they improve prognosis in HPV‐positive HNSCC patients.