A LARGE international study has found that a range of common medications have an adverse effect on treatment outcomes for patients with breast cancer.
Led by the University of South Australia (UniSA) and Flinders University, researchers looked at how everyday therapeutics such as blood pressure tablets, cholesterol-lowering drugs and heartburn medication may interact with cancer therapies.
Based on 19 major clinical trials sponsored by pharma companies including Lilly, Pfizer and Roche, and involving 23,000 people, the study is believed to be the largest and most comprehensive analysis of its kind.
The team found that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) were associated with poorer overall survival for patients with breast cancer, as well as a 36% higher risk of severe, treatment-associated side effects.
It is thought that proton pump inhibitors may interfere with the body's immune responses or alter how cancer drugs are absorbed and metabolised, although further investigation is needed.
Beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and calcium-channel blockers prescribed for heart disease or hypertension were also linked to higher rates of severe side effects, though did not appear to affect overall survival.
Statins and metformin showed no significant impact on either survival or adverse events.
"Our results don't suggest that people should stop taking their non-cancer medicines, but it underlines how important it is for doctors to regularly review patient medications because people are living longer and managing multiple health issues," said lead author Dr Natansh Modi.
Read the study HERE.
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