Cholesterol lowering drugs may increase effectiveness of radiation therapy for prostate cancer.

Statins are a type of drug commonly used to lower cholesterol levels. They work by interfering with the activity of the enzyme, HMG-CoA reductase, a key enzyme in cholesterol production in the liver. Recent studies have indicated that statins also can benefit high-risk localized prostate cancer patients receiving high doses of radiation therapy. In a controlled study, coupling statins with radiation therapy correlated with an increased relapse-free survival period, which suggests that statins may play in sensitizing cancer cells to radiation.