Scientists have found evidence that women with breast cancer who carry a particular gene mutation could benefit from statin therapy.
Although they emphasised the research was at much too early a stage to make any "definitive conclusions", they said it had "great implications".
The research centres on a gene called p53, which usually suppresses cancerous cells. However, very frequently the gene mutates, giving it new erroneous functions that promote cancer formation, resulting in disorganised, invasive growth of cells.
It is already known that more than half of all human cancers carry mutations of the p53 gene, according to the authors, writing in the journal Cell.
In a laboratory study, William Freed-Pastor and Carol Prives of Columbia University in the US, and colleagues, showed that treating breast cells carrying mutant p53 genes with statins reduced their invasive growth. In some cases the cells died.
Prives, professor of biology at Columbia, said: "The data raises the possibility that we might identify subsets of patients whose tumors may respond to statins.
"Of course we can't make any definitive conclusions until we know more," before adding: "There are great implications, but nothing clinical yet."
Clinical trials would be needed to confirm the suggestions raised by the laboratory study, she said.
Dr Caitlin Palframan, of the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: “We’re excited that existing drugs, like statins, are showing potential in the fight against breast cancer.
"This research identifies a relatively large group of breast cancer patients who could be targeted with statins, though we will need to see the results of clinical trials to know whether this will work."
Seperate studies have indicated statins could help fight cancer. Last year, a study published in the journal Cancer indicated that men taking them might be 30 per cent less likely to see prostate cancer return after surgery.
Another review found a 12 per cent reduction in developing colon cancer, in those who took statins for at least five years.
However, these were observational studies that could not prove causality. Neither did they investigate a potential reason for the apparent reduction in cancer.
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