Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To test if statin administration attenuated renal sinus fat (RSF) accumulation and if RSF was associated with renal function in women with breast cancer (BC) receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis in a subgroup of women with stage I-III BC randomized to placebo (n = 35) or statin (40 mg/day atorvastatin, n = 44) therapy. At baseline and 24-months after randomization, RSF and intraabdominal fat were measured from magnetic resonance images, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated from serum creatinine. RESULTS: Participants in this study averaged 51 years of age (SD 11), 87% reported White race, and had a mean BMI (±SD) of 30.2 kg/m2 (±6.1). Most participants (60%) were diagnosed with stage II BC. At 24-months, RSF was higher in the placebo group relative to the statin group (β [95% CI], p-value: 0.17 [0.009, 0.34], p = 0.04). After adjusting for baseline RSF, this signal remained but was attenuated (β [95% CI], p-value: 0.12 [-0.06, 0.29], p = 0.18). In all participants at baseline and prior to beginning chemotherapy for BC or study drug, higher RSF was associated with lower eGFR values in all participants (r = -0.23, p = 0.03). At 24-months by study group, greater RSF was associated with decreased eGFR in the placebo group (-0.51, p = 0.01) but not in the statin group (-0.25, p = 0.19). DISCUSSION: Statin administration may lower RSF during anthracycline-based chemotherapy. These findings merit further investigation to determine if statins protect renal function during BC treatment.