Do statins have an effect on colonic tissue at the molecular level?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The effect of statins upon colonic cells, and colonic tissue healing.
IRAS ID
120643
Contact name
Paul Rooney
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals Trust
Research summary
Surgery to remove a section of diseased bowel, then re-join (anastomose) the two ends is commonly carried out to treat cancer, and other bowel disease. A leak at the site of the join (anastomosis), is a feared complication as leak is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, need for permanent stoma formation and cancer recurrence. Anastomotic leak is also associated with significant costs to the healthcare provider. The reported rate of anastomotic leak varies, with some series reporting a rate of up to 15%. Methods to reduce the incidence of leak would therefore be of clear benefit to patients undergoing anastomosis, and to the healthcare provider. Evidence from a recent retrospective study suggested that patients taking statins preoperatively had a significantly reduced risk of anastomotic leak. Evidence from an animal study suggested that statins increased strength at the site of the join, however, we are not aware of any research to date to have investigated the effect that statins may have upon normal human colonic tissue.
We intend to investigate the effect of statins upon human colonic tissue. In order to conduct a study that does not affect the patient’s treatment, we will use surplus tissue, removed at the time of bowel surgery. All patients undergoing bowel resection will be eligible to enter the study. Patients will be identified pre-operatively, and invited to participate in the study, having been fully informed of the nature of the study. A pre-operative drug history will be taken, to establish which patients are taking statins, which statins the patients are taking, and the daily dose, and the duration of the patient’s use of statins. We will analyse sections of the surplus tissue to establish whether there are significant molecular differences in colonic tissue taken from patients who take statins, compared to those patients not taking statins.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/SC/0351
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jun 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion