Pravastatin antifibrotic efficacy in reversing radiation-induced fibrosis after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer

 

A prospective study done by Celine Bourgier and colleagues from Université de Montpellier, France; .showed that pravastatin (a statin) is an efficient antifibrotic agent in patients with established cutaneous and subcutaneous radiation-induced fibrosis (RIF) after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. 

The primary endpoint was reduction of RIF thickness by more than 30% at 12 months, as measured by cutaneous high-frequency ultrasonography. Secondary endpoints included RIF severity reduction, pravastatin tolerance, and quality of life. 

Sixty patients were enrolled from February 2011 to April 2016. The mean interval between RIF diagnosis and pravastatin initiation was 17.1 months. Pravastatin was stopped before 11 months of treatment in 18 patients (because of grade ≥2 adverse events related to pravastatin in 8 patients [13%]). In the 40 patients in whom pravastatin efficacy was assessed by high-frequency ultrasonography at baseline and at 12 months of treatment, a reduction of RIF thickness ≥30% was observed in 15 of 42 patients (35.7%). At the 12-month clinical evaluation, RIF severity was decreased in 50% of patients (n = 21), and the patients' self-perception, mood state, and social functioning were significantly improved. Pravastatin was well tolerated.

 The authors concluded that this phase 2 prospective study supports the notion of radioinduced fibrosis reversibility. It showed that pravastatin (40 mg/d for 12 months) is an efficient antifibrotic agent in patients with grade ≥2 cutaneous and subcutaneous fibrosis after head and neck cancer radiation therapy.