Antihypertensive Drugs and Risk of Cancer: Between Scylla and Charybdis

Elias Sanidas; Maria Velliou; Dimitrios Papadopoulos; Anastasia Fotsali; Dimitrios Iliopoulos; Marina Mantzourani; Konstantinos Toutouzas; John Barbetseas

doi:10.1093/ajh/hpaa098

Antihypertensive Drugs and Risk of Cancer: Between Scylla and Charybdis

Am J Hypertens. 2020 Dec 31;33(12):1049-1058. doi: 10.1093/ajh/hpaa098.

Authors

Elias Sanidas¹, Maria Velliou¹, Dimitrios Papadopoulos¹, Anastasia Fotsali¹, Dimitrios Iliopoulos², Marina Mantzourani³, Konstantinos Toutouzas⁴, John Barbetseas¹

Affiliations

¹ Hypertension Excellence Centre-ESH, Department of Cardiology, LAIKO General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
² Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research "N.S. Christeas", University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece.
³ 1st Department of Internal Medicine, LAIKO General Hospital, University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece.
⁴ University of Athens, 1st Department of Cardiology, Hippokrateion Hospital, Athens, Greece.

PMID: 32529212
DOI: 10.1093/ajh/hpaa098

Abstract

Antihypertensive drugs namely angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, and diuretics are among the most clearly documented regimens worldwide with an overall cardioprotective benefit. Given that malignancy is the second leading cause of mortality, numerous observational studies aimed to investigate the carcinogenic potential of these agents with conflicting results. The purpose of this review was to summarize current data in an effort to explore rare side effects and new mechanisms linking antihypertensive drugs with the risk of developing cancer.

Keywords: antihypertensive agents; blood pressure; cancer; hypertension.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / therapeutic use
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / therapeutic use
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use*
Breast Neoplasms / epidemiology
Calcium Channel Blockers / therapeutic use
Carcinoma, Renal Cell / epidemiology
Diuretics / therapeutic use
Female
Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / epidemiology
Humans
Hypertension / drug therapy*
Hypertension / epidemiology
Kidney Neoplasms / epidemiology
Lung Neoplasms / epidemiology
Male
Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use
Neoplasms / epidemiology*
Ovarian Neoplasms / epidemiology
Prostatic Neoplasms / epidemiology
Protective Factors
Risk Factors
Skin Neoplasms / epidemiology

Substances

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Antihypertensive Agents
Calcium Channel Blockers
Diuretics
Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists