AN INTERESTING OBSERVATION

Br J Cancer. 2010 Oct 26. [Epub ahead of print]
Inhibition of renin-angiotensin system affects prognosis of advanced pancreatic cancer receiving gemcitabine.
Nakai Y, Isayama H, Ijichi H, Sasaki T, Sasahira N, Hirano K, Kogure H, Kawakubo K, Yagioka H, Yashima Y, Mizuno S, Yamamoto K, Arizumi T, Togawa O, Matsubara S, Tsujino T, Tateishi K, Tada M, Omata M, Koike K.

Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
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.British Journal of Cancer advance online publication, 26 October 2010;