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Letter
Effect of statins on cancer in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  1. R P Young,
  2. R J Hopkins
  1. Schools of Medicine and Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
  1. Correspondence to Dr R P Young, University of Auckland, 73 St Stephens Avenue, Parnell, Auckland 1, New Zealand; robertyoung{at}adhb.govt.nz

https://doi.org/10.1136/thx.2009.131250

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    We read with interest the article by van Gestel et al1 reporting a protective effect of statins on cancer mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and suggest here a plausible explanation.

    Consistent with the literature, the study shows that COPD is associated with an elevated risk of lung cancer. Recently, we reported that COPD is pre-existing in 70% of lung cancer cases compared with 15% in unselected matched smokers.2 We agree with van Gestel et al1 that this link is likely to be secondary to a …

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    Footnotes

    • Competing interests None to declare.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; not externally peer reviewed.

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      Authors' reply
      Yvette R B M van Gestel Don Poldermans
      Thorax 2010; 66 355-356 Published Online First: 26 Oct 2010. doi: 10.1136/thx.2010.149666