The protective role of phosphodiesterase inhibitors in preventing colorectal cancer and advanced colorectal polyps: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Abstract
Abstract Aim Inflammatory cells within the tumour microenvironment are the driving forces behind colorectal cancer (CRC) tumourigenesis. Understanding the different pathways involved in CRC carcinogenesis paves the way for effective repurposing of drugs for cancer prevention. Emerging data from preclinical and clinical studies suggest that, due to their antiproliferative and anti‐inflammatory properties, phosphodiesterase‐5 inhibitors (PDE5i) might have an anticancer effect. The aim of this study was to clarify through systematic review and meta‐analysis of published peer‐reviewed studies whether an association exists between PDE5i use and CRC risk. Method This study was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis guidelines. Prospective registration was performed on PROSPERO (CRD42022372925). A systematic review was performed for studies reporting CRC and advanced colorectal polyp incidence in PDE5i ‘ever‐users’ and PDE5i ‘never‐users’. Meta‐analysis was performed using RevMan version 5. Results Four observational cohort studies and two case–control studies, comprising 995 242 patients were included in the final analysis, of whom 347 126 were PDE5i ever‐users. Patients who were PDE5i ever‐users had a significantly lower incidence of CRC or advanced colorectal polyps than never‐users (OR 0.88, CI 0.79–0.98, p = 0.02). To examine the primary preventative role of PDE5i, subgroup analysis of four studies including patients without a previous…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 995 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Treatment of non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: facing age-related comorbidities and drug–drug interactions
- The Efficacy of Flogofilm® in the Treatment of Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis as an Adjuvant to Antibiotic Therapy: A Randomized Prospective Trial
- Inhibition of growth and contraction in human prostate stromal cells by silencing of NUAK1 and -2, and by the presumed NUAK inhibitors HTH01-015 and WZ4003
- Effectiveness and Safety of a New Nutrient Fixed Combination Containing Pollen Extract Plus Teupolioside, in the Management of LUTS in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy: A Pilot Study
- Extract from Cucurbita pepo improves BPH symptoms without affecting sexual function: a 24-month noninterventional study
- Aquablation vs. holmium laser enucleation of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia: a 150-patients prospective comparative multicenter study
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.