Are calcium channel blockers related to lung cancer?

Abstract

Background: Calcium channel blocker (CCB) is a common antihypertensive agent for the treatment of hypertension. There are inconsistent data of an association of CCB and lung cancer in the literature. This study aimed to evaluate this association by a case-control design. Methods: The inclusion criteria were adult patients 18 years or over, diagnosed with hypertension, lung cancer or pulmonary tuberculosis, and presenting with one of the suggestive symptoms of lung cancer. Those who were pregnant or had a diagnosis of lung cancer or pulmonary tuberculosis prior to the diagnosis of hypertension were excluded. Diagnosis of lung cancer was made pathologically, while tuberculosis was made by positive acid-fast bacilli on sputum examination, sputum culture positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, or polymerase chain reaction positive for M. tuberculosis with a chest x-ray compatible with tuberculosis. Cases were those diagnosed with lung cancer, while controls were those diagnosed with tuberculosis. Factors associated with lung cancer were calculated by logistic regression analysis. Results: There were 178 patients who met the study criteria. Of those, 69 patients (38.8%) were in the case group. The lung cancer group had EGFR gene mutation in 21 patients (52.5%) and adenocarcinoma was the most common cell type of lung cancer (55 patients; 79.7%). There were two factors independently associated with lung cancer including dyslipidemia and family history of lung cancer. Conclusions: CCB was not associated with lung cancer in patients with hypertension but dyslipidemia and family history of lung cancer were independently associated with lung cancer in this setting.