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Study results show no clear link between calcium channel blockers, breast cancer

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CHICAGO — Analysis of a potential link between use of calcium channel blockers and risk for breast cancer yielded conflicting results in two separate cohorts, according to results presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.

Researchers conducted separate analyses of general patients (n=2,612) and patients who underwent coronary angiography (n=1,106) at Intermountain Healthcare facilities in Utah. All patients were female, aged 50 to 70 years and had no history of breast cancer.

Risk for breast cancer was significantly higher among patients in the general cohort who were prescribed calcium channel blockers compared with patients who were not prescribed calcium channel blockers (HR=1.58; 95% CI, 1.1-2.26). Patients with a family history (HR=2.79; 95% CI, 1.96-3.97) and personal history (HR=1.87; 95% CI, 1.07-3.26) of breast cancer also were at greater risk. Most cases of breast cancer (64%) developed within 5 years of follow-up.

Among patients who underwent coronary angiography, the researchers observed a reverse relationship between risk for breast cancer and calcium channel blocker use (HR=0.51; 95% CI, 0.27-0.97).

Associations between risk and secondary outcomes, including coronary and renal disease or incident diabetes, were consistent between groups.

“We found no robust data that calcium channel blocker medications increase a person’s risk of breast cancer,” Jeffrey L. Anderson, MD, cardiologist at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute, said in a press release. “Given the important role [that] calcium channel blocker medications play in treating heart conditions, we think it’s premature to discontinue their use. At this point, we recommend that patients continue taking these medications to treat their hypertension.”

The researchers concluded that the conflicting associations are likely to represent uncorrected confounding factors, such as drug interactions or prescriber bias. They called for further research and randomized trials to assess the potential link between breast cancer risk and calcium channel blocker use.

For more information:

Lam UT. Abstract #12688. Presented at: American Heart Association Scientific Sessions; Nov. 15-19, 2014; Chicago.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.