Calcium channel blockers block
calcium signal-mediated apoptosis. It is hypothesized that the use of these drugs may be associated with the development of
cancer. This study investigated the association between daily use of
calcium channel blockers and
prostate cancer in a community-based cohort of men who participated in a longitudinal study of
lower urinary tract symptoms. Study subjects were men ages 40 to 79 years by January 1, 1990, and were randomly selected from Olmsted County in Minnesota. At baseline, participants underwent an interview to determine all medications taken on a daily basis, including
calcium channel blockers and to elicit a family history of
prostate cancer. During follow-up, all men with a histological diagnosis of
prostate cancer were identified through patient self-report and by a review of the complete medical record. Over 12,668 person years of follow-up, 15 (6.8%) of 220
calcium channel blocker users and 120 (10.5%) of 1142 nonusers developed
prostate cancer (P = 0.09; odds ratio, 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.36-1.10). With adjustment for age and family history of
prostate cancer, the risk (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval) of
prostate cancer was 0.55 (0.31-0.97) in
calcium channel blocker users compared with nonusers. In analyses stratified by family history of
prostate cancer, the risk of
prostate cancer was 0.45 (0.23-0.88) in men without a family history and 2.64 (0.82-8.47) in men with a family history of
prostate cancer (P = 0.006). These findings suggest an association between
prostate cancer and daily use of
calcium channel blockers that varies by family history of
prostate cancer.