Retrospective evaluation of the impact of non-oncologic chronic drug therapy on the survival in patients with bladder cancer

Background Chronic drug therapy may impact recurrence and survival of patients with bladder cancer and thus be of concern regarding drug choice and treatment decisions. Currently, data are conflicting for some drug classes and missing for others. Objective To analyze the impact of common non-oncologic chronic drug intake on survival in patients with bladder cancer and radical cystectomy. Setting. Patients with bladder cancer and radical cystectomy (2004-2018) at the University Hospital Munich. Method Data from an established internal database with patients with bladder cancer and radical cystectomy were included in a retrospective study. Drug therapy at the time of radical cystectomy and survival data were assessed and follow-up performed 3 months after radical cystectomy and yearly until death or present. Impact on survival was analyzed for antihypertensive, antidiabetic, anti-gout, antithrombotic drugs and statins, using the Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test and Cox-regression models. Main outcome measure Recurrence free survival, cancer specific survival and overall survival for users versus non-users of predefined drug classes. Results Medication and survival data were available in 972 patients. Median follow-up time was 22 months (IQR 7-61). In the univariate analysis, a significant negative impact among users on recurrence free survival (n = 93; p = 0.038), cancer specific survival (n = 116; p < 0.001) and overall survival (n = 116; p < 0.001) was found for calcium-channel blockers, whereas angiotensin-receptor-blockers negatively influenced overall survival (n = 96; p = 0.020), but not recurrence free survival (n = 73; p = 0.696) and cancer specific survival (n = 96; p = 0.406). No effect of angiotensin-receptor-blockers and calcium-channel blockers was seen in the multivariate analysis. None of the other studied drugs had an impact on survival. Conclusion There was no impact on bladder cancer recurrence and survival for any of the analyzed drugs. Considering our results and the controverse findings in the literature, there is currently no evidence to withhold indicated drugs or choose specific drug classes among the evaluated non-oncologic chronic drug therapies. Thus, prospective studies are required for further insight. Trail registration This is part of the trial DRKS00017080, registered 11.10.2019.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the impact of common non-oncologic chronic drug intake on survival in patients with bladder cancer and radical cystectomy. The results showed that none of the analyzed drugs had an impact on bladder cancer recurrence and survival, indicating the need for further prospective studies for more insight.