Impact of angiotensin receptor blockers, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and thiazide diuretics on survival of ovarian cancer patients

Purpose We investigated the impact of four types of antihypertensive medications, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), beta blockers (BBs; both selective and non-selective), calcium channel blockers (CCBs), and thiazide diuretics (TDs) on survival outcomes in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Materials and Methods A single-institutional retrospective chart review of 878 patients with EOC was performed. Survival was compared according to use of the four antihypertensive medications during primary treatment. Propensity score matching (ratio 1:3) was performed to control possible associated covariates, such as age, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, residual status after primary debulking surgery, and co-morbidity. Results Among 878 patients, 56 patients (6.4%) were ARB users, 62 (7.1%) were BB users, 107 (12.2%) were CCBs users and 32 (3.6%) used TDs. Median progression-free survival (PFS) for ARB, BB, and CCB users was 37.8, 27.2, and 23.6 months compared with 33.6 months for non-users. ARB was associated with 35% decreased risk of disease progression (hazard ratio [HR], 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.42 to 0.99; p=0.046) in multivariate analysis. After propensity score matching, median PFS for ARB users was 37.8 months and ARB use remained to be associated with lower recurrence rate in univariate (p=0.035) and multivariate analysis (HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.39 to 0.93; p=0.022). Conclusion In this study, ARBs use during primary treatment is associated with lower recurrence in EOC patients. However, CCBs, BBs, and TDs did not show beneficial impact.