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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / January 2006calcium channel blockers and PCa
I just learned there was concern in recent years, apparently based on some epidemiological evidence, that calcium channel blockers (CCB) increase the risk of PCa. I've been taking Norvasc for a couple years (along with Plendil for bp control). Norvasc is a CCB. Does anyone know of definitive evidence one way or another? Thanks, RonL Ron, Where did that originate, can you cite some sources? Tom >I just learned there was concern in recent years, apparently based on some >epidemiological evidence, that calcium channel blockers (CCB) increase the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Thanks, RonL > Ron, > > Where did that originate, can you cite some sources? > Tom I first heard it last night on the Don Cooley chat session. A log of that chat is found here: http://chat.prostate-help.org/room.htm A quick Google ("calcium channel blockers and prostate cancer") gives: http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/13/2/255 For an anecdotal report ("Norvasc and prostate cancer"), see: http://www.yananow.net/Mentors/CamB.htm Other stuff comes up that may or may not be relevant. That's why I was asking here before spending time digging into it. -Ron >> Ron, >> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/13/2/255 This one seems to show that prostate cancer is LESS likely in men who use calcium channel blockers but more likely in such men with a family history of prostate cancer. On the other hand the number of prostate cancers among users was only 15 out of 220, and the number with a family history presumably was signficantly lower. So it is not clear to me that the numbers are sufficient to draw any kind of firm conclusion. Also keep in mind that 15 out of 220 is about 6 percent, and the lifetime risk for men in general is about 16 percent. Of course these men weren't followed through their entire lifetimes but the time horizon did seem relatively long. Personally, I think studies like this are at best straws in the wind. I certainly wouldn't stop using a calcium channel blocker which was prescribed for a valid reason on the basis of evidence like this. > For an anecdotal report ("Norvasc and prostate cancer"), see: > > http://www.yananow.net/Mentors/CamB.htm > > Other stuff comes up that may or may not be relevant. That's why I was > asking here before spending time digging into it. -Ron I'm inclined to agree with Leonard. The Cardura may help prevent me from having further cardiac problems that have the potential of killing me a lot sooner than Pca. Tom The problem is that Cardura *is not* a calcium channel blocker. It is an alpha blocker. Some CCB have shown to increase the incidence of cancer by blocking apoptosis Pahor M, Furberg CD. Is the use of some calcium antagonists linked to cancer? Evidence from recent observational studies. Drugs Aging. 1998 Aug;13(2):99-108. Review. PMID: 9739499 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] F > Some CCB have shown to increase the incidence of cancer by blocking > apoptosis [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Drugs Aging. 1998 Aug;13(2):99-108. Review. > PMID: 9739499 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] And I just realized that *both* my bp meds, Plendil and Norvasc, are CCBs! Time to have a talk with the docs.... RonL Frankie, The error was mine, I meant Norvasc and was talking to my wife about a refill of Cardura at the same time. Tom > The problem is that Cardura *is not* a calcium channel blocker. It is > an alpha blocker. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > F > Some CCB have shown to increase the incidence of cancer by blocking > apoptosis [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Drugs Aging. 1998 Aug;13(2):99-108. Review. > PMID: 9739499 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] I just found a (several years later) article that seems to suggest the opposite, at least in older age strata, or when there's no family history of PCa: http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/13/2/255 The journal ref is: Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention Vol. 13, 255-259, February 2004 Here's the abstract: Calcium channel blockers block calcium signal-mediated apoptosis. It is hypothesized that the use of these drugs may be associated with the development of cancer. This study investigated the association between daily use of calcium channel blockers and prostate cancer in a community-based cohort of men who participated in a longitudinal study of lower urinary tract symptoms. Study subjects were men ages 40 to 79 years by January 1, 1990, and were randomly selected from Olmsted County in Minnesota. At baseline, participants underwent an interview to determine all medications taken on a daily basis, including calcium channel blockers and to elicit a family history of prostate cancer. During follow-up, all men with a histological diagnosis of prostate cancer were identified through patient self-report and by a review of the complete medical record. Over 12,668 person years of follow-up, 15 (6.8%) of 220 calcium channel blocker users and 120 (10.5%) of 1142 nonusers developed prostate cancer (P = 0.09; odds ratio, 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.36-1.10). With adjustment for age and family history of prostate cancer, the risk (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval) of prostate cancer was 0.55 (0.31-0.97) in calcium channel blocker users compared with nonusers. In analyses stratified by family history of prostate cancer, the risk of prostate cancer was 0.45 (0.23-0.88) in men without a family history and 2.64 (0.82-8.47) in men with a family history of prostate cancer (P = 0.006). These findings suggest an association between prostate cancer and daily use of calcium channel blockers that varies by family history of prostate cancer. -RonL Dr. Snuffy Meyers also recommend avoiding CCB's. I was on Norvasc for 5 years prior to diagnosis of PC at age 50. My father also had PC. My primary doc didn't put any credence in the linkage between PC and CCB's. But he did switch me to another BP med (diovan) that is not a CCB. With the hundreds of BP meds available, avoiding CCB's makes sense to me. Rich |
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