Statins and Cancer — Beyond the “One Drug, One Disease” Model

Colorectal cancer is a major health concern, with more than 1 million cases and half a million cancer-related deaths estimated worldwide in 2002.1 These statistics are sobering, considering that the availability of well-established screening and surgical techniques should make most cases preventable. Colorectal cancer typically develops over a period of 10 to 20 years, providing ample time for detection and surgical or medical intervention before it poses a clinical threat. To date, our best chemopreventive interventions have been identified by a convergence of data from at least three domains — observational, in vitro, and in vivo studies. The efficacy of . . .