No Association Between Calcium Channel Blockers and Survival in Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Any association between calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and survival in cancer patients remains unclear and the results of related studies are conflicting. The objective of the study was to investigate the association between calcium channel blocker (CCB) use and survival in cancer patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library for studies published before January 2016 with terms related to CCBs and survival in cancer patients. The information was reviewed and extracted by two evaluators independently. Data from publications were extracted and used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival (OS). Statistical analysis was performed by using Review Manager 5.3.

RESULTS: There were 11 studies included in our meta-analysis. Analysis of all showed that CCBs use was not associated with survival in cancer patients (HR=1.07; 95% CI: 0.91-1.25; P=0.42). No association between CCB use and overall survival in cancer patients existed, whether in Asian (HR=1.18, 95% CI: 0.72-1.93; P=0.52) or Caucasian populations (HR=1.03, 95% CI: 0.89-1.20; P=0.66).

CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence that CCB use is associated with a better or worse survival in cancer patients.