Middle East Journal of Cancer

Investigating the Protective Effects of Atorvastatin against Radiotherapy-Induced Gastrointestinal Toxicity in Abdominal and Pelvic Cancers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

Dr.Nadia Najafi Zade 1
Neda Mohammadi 2
Simin Hemati 2

1 Associate Professor, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Radiation Oncology D

2 Department of Radiooncology, School of Medicine Seyyed Al-Shohada Hospital Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

https://doi.org/10.30476/mejc.2025.104665.2197
Abstract
Background: Radiotherapy (RT) for pelvic cancers often causes gastrointestinal toxicity. While statins show promise in reducing radiation-induced injury through anti-inflammatory properties, their impact on acute toxicity remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of atorvastatin on acute gastrointestinal toxicity in patients undergoing pelvic RT for genitourinary or lower gastrointestinal cancers.
Method: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, patients receiving pelvic RT for genitourinary or lower gastrointestinal cancers were assigned to atorvastatin 40 mg or placebo daily. Toxicity was assessed using the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire, with individual symptom frequencies as secondary outcomes. For data analysis independent t-tests and repeated measures ANOVA were used.
Results: Among 64 randomized patients with comparable baseline characteristics, no significant differences were found in questionnaire scores or symptom incidence between treatment arms (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Atorvastatin did not significantly reduce acute gastrointestinal toxicities during pelvic RT compared with placebo. Larger studies are needed to definitively evaluate statins the gastroprotective potential of statins in this context.

Highlights

Simin Hemati (google scholar)

Nadia Najafizade (google scholar)

Keywords

Radiotherapy
Pelvic neoplasms
Gastrointestinal toxicity
Statins
Atorvastatin
Subjects

How to cite this article:

Hemati S, Mohammadi N, Najafizade N. Investigating the Protective Effects of Atorvastatin against Radiotherapy-Induced Gastrointestinal Toxicity in Abdominal and Pelvic Cancers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial . Middle East J Cancer. 2026; 17(1): 30-42. doi: 10.30476/ mejc.2025.104665.2197.

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