Survival Analysis of 1140 Patients with Biliary Cancer and Benefit from Concurrent Renin-Angiotensin Antagonists, Statins, or Aspirin with Systemic Therapy

Background: Patients with advanced biliary tract cancers (BTCs) have poor prognoses and limited therapeutic options. Renin-angiotensin antagonists (ACE-I/ARBs), statins, and aspirin may have potential anti-tumorigenic effects and decrease mortality per retrospective analyses in some solid tumors. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of ACE-Is/ARBs, statins, and/or aspirin concurrent to first-line systemic therapy in patients with advanced or metastatic BTC. Methods: Adult patients at University of Michigan with pathologic confirmation of BTC between January 2010 and December 2020 were included in this retrospective analysis. Results: Of 1140 patients who met eligibility, a total of 509 patients received one or more concomitant medication(s) of interest in conjunction with systemic therapy for advanced cancer. In the total cohort, the overall survival for locally advanced patients (N = 305) was 16.3 months (95% CI: 12.1-18.6), and metastatic patients (N = 512) 8.6 months (95% CI: 7.6-9.5); P <.0001. Within this concomitant medication cohort, patients with locally advanced stage (n = 132) experienced significantly longer progression-free survival (9.8 vs 4.5; P < 0.0001), and overall survival (17.4 vs 10.6; P < 0.0001) than those with metastatic (n = 297) cancer, respectively. Patients who received ACE-Is/ARBs, statins, and/or aspirin (n = 245) versus not (n = 264) concurrent with systemic anti-cancer therapy did not experience improved progression-free (5.5 vs 5.5 months; hazard ratio (HR) 1.1; P = 0.51), or overall survival (12.3 vs 12.6 months; HR 1.1; P = 0.18), respectively. Conclusion: In contrast to prior studies, no progression free or overall survival benefit in patients with advanced BTC from concurrent use of ACE-I/ARBs, statin, and/or aspirin with systemic therapy was observed when assessed by BTC subtype or specific systemic therapy regimen.

Automated summary

This study retrospectively analyzed the efficacy of ACE-I/ARBs, statins, and/or aspirin concurrent with first-line systemic therapy in patients with advanced biliary tract cancers (BTCs). The results showed that there was no improvement in progression-free or overall survival in patients who received these medications compared to those who did not.