Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to treat and beat.
But in a new study from Thomas Jefferson University, researchers found that commonly prescribed high blood pressure drugs may boost survival in patients.
Known as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), those who took them saw a boost in survival.
The team found people with pancreatic cancer who took an ARB had a 20% lower risk of dying during the study period, and those taking ACE inhibitors had a 13% reduction in their risk of dying.
The team says these are inexpensive medications, have a low side-effect profile, are widely available, and very well could improve the survival of people with pancreatic cancer.
Despite this promise, they caution that it’s way too early to suggest that all people with pancreatic cancer start taking these medications in hopes of gaining a survival edge.
More research is still needed to understand any potential mechanisms.
In the study, the team used a database of 3.7 million people in northern Italy that included more than 8,150 people with pancreatic cancer.
Close to half of the patients with pancreatic cancer were also taking ACE inhibitors or ARBs to control high blood pressure.
About 86% of the people with pancreatic cancer died within 6.4 months of their diagnosis.
The team found people taking blood pressure medications lived longer than those who weren’t, the study found.
The lower risk associated with ACE inhibitors diminished after three years, while the lower risk associated with ARBs remained.
What’s more, the risk reduction seen in people taking ARBs was even greater if they also had surgery for their cancer.
The team suggests that now it’s time for a large-scale trial where some people with pancreatic cancer take ACE inhibitors or ARBs and others take a placebo or dummy pill.
If you care about pancreatic cancer, please read studies about this diabetes can be an early sign of pancreatic cancer, and findings of a new way to treat pancreatic cancer more effectively.
For more information about pancreatic cancer, please see recent studies about treatment that may improve survival of pancreatic cancer, and results showing how to stop spread of pancreatic cancer.
The study is published in the journal BMC Cancer and was conducted by Scott Keith et al.
Copyright © 2022 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
