Posted 12/15/2007 8:24 AM (GMT -8)
I have high blood pressure and the drug I was taking apparently can cause cancer cells to better adapt to the HT treatment I am undergoing. This was brought to my attention and my PCP doctor was not aware of it. I haven't spoken to my oncologist yet, but I brought the report below to my doctor and he immediately change by my blood pressure meds to an ACE inhibitor. He is doing more research on it but said the preliminary info is that the study below is correct. I've included it below so that if anyone has high blood pressure and is on HT they can be aware of the possibility that they are taking a medication that could shorten the effects of the HT.
Ca-channel blockers blunt androgen ablation PSA response Myrick SE, Panov AV, Graham SD, Jr., et al. J Urol 159:132A, 1998.
Objective: Changes in intracellular calcium concentration and levels of calcium-dependent nuclease activity are important mediators of apoptosis in prostate epithelium. Pharmacological blockade of calciurn channels may be expected to interfere with androgen ablation therapy of prostate cancer. We report the effect of calcium-channel blockers on PSA response to GnRH agonists in prostate cancer patients. Methods: A cohort of patients was identified that had been treated with leupron and/or goserelin for prostate cancer. This cohort was then analyzed for concomitant calcium channel blocker treatment. Pharmacy and laboratory records were reviewed. Results of patients who had PSA values checked within one year following first dose of GnRH agonists were tabulated. No clinical correlation was made.
Results: Twenty six patients not on a calcium-channel blocker while first given a GnRH agonist showed a first PSA average of 3, PSA nadir 1.75. Twenty-six comparable patients on a calcium-chamel blocker when first given a GnRH agonist showed an initial post-treatment PSA value average of 17, PSA nadir 10.2. The differences in both first PSA and PSA nadir was significant (p = 0.04 and 0.02, respectively). Prior to treatment, PSA values in the two groups were similar at 30.9 and 37.8. The proportion of patients achieving a PSA nadir less than or equal to 0.4 within I year was 12/26 (46%) for patients not on calcium channel blockers, 7/26 27% for patients an calcium channel blockers.
Conclusion: Calcium channel blocker medications reduce the number of prostate cancer patients responding to androgen ablation by GnRH agonists as measured by PSA response.
Tony