In a nutshell
The authors determined the association between beta-blockers and prostate cancer-specific mortality (patients who died from prostate cancer following treatment) in patients with high-risk (stage IV) or metastatic (cancer spread out from prostate) cancer.
Some background
Hormone therapy is a common treatment used in prostate cancer. It targets the male sex hormones active in prostate cancer, such as testosterone. Beta-blockers are drugs that reduce blood pressure. Some studies have researched the benefit of beta-blockers in preventing prostate cancer progression. Patients who receive beta-blockers are also given acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin [ASA] – prevents blood clots) and statins to prevent heart problems. Statins are drugs that lower cholesterol. Two examples of statins are fluvastatin (Lescol) and pravastatin (Pravachol).
Further research is needed to identify the benefits of beta-blockers in treating high-risk or metastatic prostate cancer.
Methods & findings
The authors aimed to determine the benefit of beta-blockers in treating high-risk or metastatic prostate cancer patients undergoing hormone therapy.
Data from 3,561 patients were analyzed in this study. The median (midpoint) follow-up time was 39 months. 31.3% of patients used a beta-blocker both before and after prostate cancer diagnosis. Among β-blocker users, 72% of patients also used ASA and/ or statins.
Patients who used beta-blockers had a 21% reduced risk of experiencing prostate cancer-specific mortality. Reduced prostate cancer-specific mortality was independent of ASA or statin use. Patients who used beta-blockers had a 19% increased risk of experiencing death from causes other than prostate cancer. There was no association between beta-blocker use and death from across all causes.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that beta-blockers were associated with a reduced prostate cancer-specific mortality in patients with high-risk or metastatic prostate cancer.
The fine print
Results presented here need further validation from additional observational studies to be widely applied.
Published By :
European Urology
Date :
Feb 01, 2014
