Statin use/cholesterol management during venetoclax

[jaye0]

Has anyone had to use statins/cholestorol reducing meds during venetoclax? In particular has anyone used ezetrol or crestor? My Dad was on statins prior to commencing venetoclax and he is hoping to continue with the statins if they will not cause any trouble.

[MelioraDay]

There is evidence to suggest statins may work in synergy with Venetoclax by priming CLL cells for apoptosis.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/298...

"Abstract

Statins have shown promise as anticancer agents in experimental and epidemiologic research. However, any benefit that they provide is likely context-dependent, for example, applicable only to certain cancers or in combination with specific anticancer drugs. We report that inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) using statins enhances the proapoptotic activity of the B cell lymphoma-2 (BCL2) inhibitor venetoclax (ABT-199) in primary leukemia and lymphoma cells but not in normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. By blocking mevalonate production, HMGCR inhibition suppressed protein geranylgeranylation, resulting in up-regulation of proapoptotic protein p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA). In support of these findings, dynamic BH3 profiling confirmed that statins primed cells for apoptosis. Furthermore, in retrospective analyses of three clinical studies of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, background statin use was associated with enhanced response to venetoclax, as demonstrated by more frequent complete responses. Together, this work provides mechanistic justification and clinical evidence to warrant prospective clinical investigation of this combination in hematologic malignancies."

[jaye0 in reply to MelioraDay]

Hi MelioraDay, thank you for your message. Yes I think I did come

across this article also, though it is more specific to CLL and I forgot

to mention that Dad has TPLL. However we are still interested to know if people had found that venetoclax was not compatible with their statins. This is a very interesting article though, thank you again.

[cllady01 Former Volunteer]

I am sorry, Jaye0, we are a CLL/SLL support group and TPLL is a whole other situation that your father is dealing with, one with which we are not familiar.

Your best bet is to talk with your father's Dr or medical team and ask that question as it pertains to TPLL and your father's specific situation.

You might check the pharmaceutical company's information that would indicate any contraindication with Venetaclax also.

Even across CLL/SLL patients, medicines effect treatment differently. If the medication(s) you are asking about are one's the Dr. will prescribe for your father, that is your best bet to rely on.