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. 2010 Nov 23;103(11):1644-8.
doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6605955. Epub 2010 Oct 26.

Inhibition of renin-angiotensin system affects prognosis of advanced pancreatic cancer receiving gemcitabine

Y Nakai  1 , H Isayama, H Ijichi, T Sasaki, N Sasahira, K Hirano, H Kogure, K Kawakubo, H Yagioka, Y Yashima, S Mizuno, K Yamamoto, T Arizumi, O Togawa, S Matsubara, T Tsujino, K Tateishi, M Tada, M Omata, K Koike
Affiliations

Inhibition of renin-angiotensin system affects prognosis of advanced pancreatic cancer receiving gemcitabine

Y Nakai et al. Br J Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is thought to have a role in carcinogenesis, and RAS inhibition may prevent tumour growth.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated the impact of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II type-1 receptor blockers (ARBs) in 155 patients with pancreatic cancer receiving gemcitabine monotherapy. Patients were divided into three groups: the ACEI/ARB group (27 patients receiving an ACEI or ARB for hypertension (HT)), the non-ACEI/ARB with HT group (25 patients receiving antihypertensive drugs other than ACEIs or ARBs), and the non-HT group (103 patients receiving no antihypertensive drugs).

Results: Patient characteristics were not different, except for age and HT medications. Progression-free survival (PFS) was 8.7 months in the ACEI/ARB group, 4.5 months in the non-ACEI/ARB with HT group, and 3.6 months in the non-HT group. Overall survival (OS) was 15.1 months in the ACEI/ARB group, 8.9 months in the non-ACEI/ARB with HT group, and 9.5 months in the non-HT group. The use of ACEIs/ARBs was a significant prognostic factor for both PFS (P=0.032) and OS (P=0.014) in the multivariate analysis.

Conclusions: The ACEIs/ARBs in combination with gemcitabine might improve clinical outcomes in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Prospective trials are needed to test this hypothesis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Kaplan–Meier curves for progression-free survival by treatment groups. The median progression-free survival was 8.7 months in the ACEI/ARB group, 4.5 months in the non-ACEI/ARB with HT group, and 3.6 months in the non-HT group.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Kaplan–Meier curves for overall survival by treatment groups. The median overall survival was 15.1 months in the ACEI/ARB group, 8.9 months in the non-ACEI/ARB with HT group, and 9.5 months in the non-HT group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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