Rūta Everatt

Evaluation of antihypertensive medications use and survival in patients with ovarian cancer: a population-based retrospective cohort study

Abstract Background Despite declining mortality in most countries and in Lithuania, ovarian cancer burden has remained high. Studies have indicated that antihypertensive medications use may help to improve ovarian cancer survival, however findings remain controversial. The aim of the study was to analyse the association between post-diagnosis antihypertensive medications intake and cancer-specific survival in ovarian cancer patients. Methods This retrospective cohort study included 588 ovarian cancer cases diagnosed between 2013 and 2015. Hazard ratios (HR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to assess associations between antihypertensive medications and ovarian cancer-specific mortality. Results In total, 279 (47%) patients died during the follow-up; 242 (87%) of them died due to ovarian cancer. The risk of ovarian cancer death was reduced in angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) users vs. non-users (HR 0.55, 95% CI: 0.36–0.83). Subgroup analysis showed better ovarian cancer survival in higher dose ACE inhibitors users (HR 0.46, 95% CI: 0.28–0.77, p for trend 0.002); the effect was also stronger in age 51–65 years, stage I–III, surgery or chemotherapy treatment, pre-diagnosis ACE inhibitor users’ and pre-diagnosis hypertension subgroups. The risk of cancer-specific death was slightly lower among calcium-channel blocker and angiotensin-receptor blocker users and higher among beta-blocker users as compared to non-users, however chance and confounding could not be ruled out. We found no association between the use of centrally and peripherally acting antiadrenergic agents and diuretics and risk of ovarian cancer-specific mortality. Conclusions Our findings imply that post-diagnosis use of ACE inhibitors may be associated with reduced ovarian cancer-specific mortality; however, further research is needed for the comprehensive assessment.

Postdiagnostic use of antihypertensive medications and survival in colorectal, lung, corpus uteri, melanoma and kidney cancer patients with hypertension

Arterial hypertension is one of the most frequent comorbidities in patients with cancer. Studies have indicated that drugs used to control hypertension may alter cancer patient survival; however, epidemiological findings for their impact on cancer survival remain inconsistent. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the consumption of antihypertensive (AH) medication on the risk of death in cancer patients. The association between 1-year postdiagnostic AH medication intake and the risk of death was examined in a population-based cohort of cancer patients including colorectal (N = 1104), lung (N = 344), melanoma (N = 334), corpus uteri (N = 832) and kidney cancer (N = 714), diagnosed between 2013 and 2015, and identified from the Lithuanian Cancer Registry. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs), and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) to assess associations between AH medications and cancer-specific and overall mortality. We found a statistically significant decrease in mortality among colorectal cancer patients who were users of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) (HR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.47-0.98) or angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) (HR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.52-0.91). A higher usage of ARBs and ACEIs was related to further improved colorectal cancer survival (HR 0.62, 95% CI: 0.39-1.00 and HR 0.60, 95% CI: 0.42-0.86, respectively). The subgroup analyses also demonstrated significantly better cancer specific survival in ARB users and ACEI users versus non-users in colorectal cancer patients with adenocarcinoma, surgery treatment, chemotherapy treatment and ARB or ACEI use before diagnosis. The results suggest a lower mortality among colorectal cancer patients with a higher usage of diuretics. Increased cancer-specific mortality was observed among corpus uteri cancer patients using ARBs and among melanoma patients using beta blockers (BBs); however, there was no evidence of consistent statistically significant associations in subgroup analyses. This study supports a link between ARB and ACEI use and increased survival among colorectal cancer patients. Further research is needed to provide a detailed evaluation of the effects of AH medications on cancer survival.