1. ¹Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
2. ²Epidemiology, Demography and Biometry Program, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

Correspondence: Marco Pahor, MD, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee, 66 North Pauline St., Memphis, TN 38105.

^*Data collection was supported by contracts N01-AG-0-2105, N01-AG-0-2106, and N01-AG-0-2107 from the National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Pahor was supported by a grant from Ministero per l'Universitá e Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica 60% N.7020532 and from Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy N.95000959.PF40.

Received 22 January 1996; Revised  0000; Accepted 10 April 1996.

Abstract

Calcium channel blockers can block calcium signals that trigger cell differentiation and apoptosis, which are important mechanisms of cancer growth regulation. To ascertain whether calcium channel blocker use was associated with an increased risk of cancer, 750 hypertensive persons age 71 years, with no history of cancer at baseline, were followed from 1988 through 1992. The patients were using either -blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or calcium channel blockers (verapamil, nifedipine, and diltiazem; mainly of the short-acting variety). Compared to -blockers (n = 424, 28 events), after adjusting for age, gender, race, smoking, body mass index, and number of hospital admissions not related with cancer, the relative risks of cancer (95% confidence interval) for angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (n = 124, 6 events) and calcium channel blockers (n = 202, 27 events) were 0.73 (0.30 to 1.78) and 2.02 (1.16 to 3.54), respectively. These findings indicate that calcium channel blocker therapy might increase the risk of cancer. New data are needed in patients using modern calcium channel blocker agents with more gradual absorption. This report should encourage further study of cancer outcomes in elderly patients who are vulnerable to cancer and who are receiving calcium channel blockers. Am J Hypertens 1996;9:695–699