Skin cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer or lymphoma sometimes occur after a heart transplant because of the immune suppressing drugs used to prevent rejection of the new heart. A recent study discovered that statins, which are immunomodulatory drugs, may also prevent cancer and reduce death in heart transplant patients. The study investigated the impact of statin therapy and the occurrence of cancer and overall survival of 255 heart transplant patients at the University Hospital Zurich in Switzerland between 1985 and 2007. Results showed that statins reduced the risk of any cancer by 65 percent. Researchers concluded that statins also prevented graft atherosclerosis. Dr. Frank Enseleit, deputy director of heart failure and transplantation at University Hospital Zurich, said that statin therapy can begin six months after transplantation and be taken throughout life.