No significant effects of ACEi and ARBs on cancers

January 01, 0001

No significant effects of ACEi and ARBs on cancers

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, but a recent meta-analysis of selected studies suggested that ARBs may increase cancer risks. Candesartan, irbesartan, telmisartan, valsartan, and losartan were assessed for incident cancers in 15 large parallel long-term multicenter double-blind clinical trials of these agents involving 138 769 participants, followed for 23-60 months.

Overall, there was no excess of cancer incidence with ARB therapy compared to controls in the 15 trials overall or when individual ARBs were examined. ORs comparing combination therapy with ARB along with ACEi versus ACEi was 1.01, combination versus ARB alone 1.02, ARB alone versus ACEi alone 1.06 and ARB versus placebo/control without ACEi 0.97. There was no excess of lung, prostate or breast cancer, or overall cancer deaths associated with ARB treatment.

The researchers concluded: "There was no significant increase in the overall or site-specific cancer risk from ARBs compared to controls."

A short time frame for such a study.


For the full abstract, click here.

Journal of Hypertension 29(4):623-635, April 2011 © 2011 to Lippincott Williams
Effects of telmisartan, irbesartan, valsartan, candesartan, and losartan on cancers in 15 trials enrolling 138 769 individuals. The ARB Trialists Collaboration.

Category: K. Circulatory Keywords: angiotensin receptor blockers, cancer incidence, candesartan, clinical trials, irbesartan, losartan, meta-analysis, telmisartan, valsartan, metaanalysis, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Stephen Wilkinson, Melbourne, Australia. Posted on Global Family Doctor 1 April 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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