Skip to main content
  • Original Article
  • Open access
  • Published:

Association of perioperative blood pressure with long-term survival in rectal cancer patients

Abstract

Background

Several studies suggested that hypertension is positively related to cancer incidence and mortality. In this study, we investigated the association between perioperative blood pressure (BP) and long-term survival outcomes in patients with rectal cancer.

Methods

This study included a cohort of 358 patients with stages I–III rectal cancer who underwent a curative resection between June 2007 and June 2011. Both pre- and postoperative BPs were measured, by which patients were grouped (low BP: <120/80 mmHg; high BP: ≥120/80 mmHg). The survival outcomes were compared between these two groups. The primary endpoints were disease-free survival (DFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS).

Results

Univariate analysis showed that patients with high preoperative systolic BP had lower 3-year DFS (67.2% vs. 82.1%, P = 0.041) and CSS rates (81.9% vs. 94.8%, P = 0.003) than patients with low preoperative systolic BP, and the associations remained significant in the Cox multivariate analysis, with the adjusted hazard ratios equal to 1.97 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08–3.60, P = 0.028] and 2.85 (95% CI = 1.00–8.25, P = 0.050), respectively. Similarly, in postoperative evaluation, patients with high systolic BP had significantly lower 3-year CSS rates than those with low systolic BP (78.3% vs. 88.9%, P = 0.032) in univariate analysis. Moreover, high pre- and/or postoperative systolic BP presented as risk factors for CSS in the subgroups of patients who did not have a history of hypertension, with and/or without perioperative administration of antihypertensive drugs.

Conclusions

High preoperative systolic BP was an independent risk factor for both CSS and DFS rates, and high postoperative systolic BP was significantly associated with a low CSS rate in rectal cancer patients. Additionally, our results suggest that rectal cancer patients may get survival benefit from BP control in perioperative care. However, further studies should be conducted to determine the association between BP and CSS and targets of BP control.

Background

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States [1] and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death in China, and its annual incidence is increasing [2, 3]. Therefore, many clinical and basic research studies have focused on the development of novel biomarkers to predict treatment outcomes and ensure optimal treatment allocation for patients with colorectal cancer [4]. Because of the increasing longevity rates and the increasing prevalence of obesity, hypertension has become a leading global disease [5]. A meta-analysis demonstrated a positive association between hypertension and all-site cancer incidence and mortality [6]. Moreover, many studies have reported this association for specific cancers, including renal carcinoma, which is the most common site-specific cancer [7]. Additional studies have shown that colorectal cancer risk is positively related to elevated blood pressure (BP) [812]. However, these findings were inconsistent, and in previous studies patients’ BP was measured only at the time of baseline health examination. Furthermore, existing data are hampered by lack of adjustment for some potential confounding factors, such as tumor stage, tumor location, and the tumor’s histologic features.

Against this background of inconsistent results and study limitations, we extended these findings by examining the association of perioperative BP with long-term survival outcomes in rectal cancer patients treated with radical-intent surgery. If a positive association does exist, efforts to control BP in perioperative care may lead to extended survival for these patients, which may in turn reveal new therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers.

Patients and methods

Patients

We reviewed 556 patients with stages I–III rectal cancer who underwent radical surgery at our institution between June 2007 and June 2011. Rectal cancer was defined as histologically proven adenocarcinoma within 15 cm of the anal verge and was staged according to the 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system [13], with staging procedures, including colonoscopy, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging, performed at the initial diagnosis in all cases. The exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) absence of postoperative BP measured at 6:00 a.m. on two consecutive postoperative days; (2) familial adenomatous polyposis; and (3) multiple primary cancers. Of the 556 patients, 198 were excluded. Finally, this retrospective and longitudinal cohort study included 358 patients eligible for analysis (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Flow diagram of patient selection. This diagram presents case disposition in the analysis of the association between perioperative BP and long-term survival in patients with rectal cancer. BP blood pressure, FAP familial adenomatous polyposis

Demographic data (including age, height, and weight), tumor location, tumor staging, the tumor’s histologic features, blood transfusion, preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, treatment regimen, time-to-recurrence, and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were collected from the Institutional Cancer Database and the Department of Inpatient Medical Records. The study was approved by the Medicine Ethics Committee of the Six Affiliated Hospital at Sun Yat-sen University.

Measurement of body mass index and BP

For all patients, weight was measured in light indoor clothing, and height was measured without shoes. According to the World Health Organization recommendation for Asians based on obesity grade, body mass index (BMI) was categorized as underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), normal (BMI 18.5–23 kg/m2), and overweight-obese (BMI ≥ 23 kg/m2) [14]. Patients’ preoperative BP was measured when they were admitted to the hospital. Postoperative BP was defined as the mean value of two BPs measured at 6:00 a.m. on 2 consecutive postoperative days (days 1 and 2). Resting time before BP measurement ranged from 10 to 20 min, body position was sitting or supine, and the equipment used was a mercury sphygmomanometer or an automatic device. Hazard ratios (HRs) for long-term survival were calculated by levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mid-BP [(SBP + DBP)/2]; SBP was also assessed in each subset by sex, BMI, and hypertension history. Mid-BP was primarily used because it is a strong predictor of cardiovascular mortality [15]. This measure, equally weighted for SBP and DBP, is considered an alternatively reasonable choice in the absence of knowledge about BP predictors in relation to rectal cancer. Pre- and postoperative BP results were classified using the Joint National Committee-7 definition of hypertension stage (BP: low <120/80 mmHg; high ≥120/80 mmHg) [16]. All patients were grouped according to these classifications.

Treatment

Details of chemoradiotherapy were described in our previous publication [17]. Among the 358 patients included in this study, 43 (12%) received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, in which a total irradiation dose of 46 Gy in 23 fractions of 2 Gy with concomitant application of 5-fluorouracil was given. At a median interval of 10.9 weeks (range, 6.9–17.3 weeks) after completion of chemoradiotherapy, total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer was implemented. Surgical techniques included low anterior resection, abdominoperineal resection, and the Parks procedure. Perioperative assessment of TME quality was performed on all surgical specimens. Based on physician suggestions and patient decisions, patients received 6–8 cycles of postoperative 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy, with a median interval of 4.4 weeks (range, 3.0–5.0 weeks).

Follow-up

All patients were re-evaluated every 3 months for the first 3 years after surgery, every 6 months for the next 2 years, and yearly thereafter. Each evaluation included a pertinent medical history, a physical examination (including a rectal examination), and measurement of serum CEA concentration. Routine radiologic examinations consisting of chest radiography, abdominopelvic CT or ultrasonography, whole-body bone scintigraphy, and colonoscopy or double-contrast barium enema were performed 6 months after surgery and annually thereafter. Cancer recurrence was detected by CEA > 5 ng/mL and/or a sequential CT scan with evidence of disease followed by histopathologic confirmation. The primary endpoints of this study were disease-free survival (DFS) and CSS. DFS was defined as the time from surgery until recurrence; CSS was defined as the time from surgery to death from rectal cancer. The designated endpoint date was July 2014, with the interval of follow-up ranging from 3 to 7 years. Patients were censored at their last follow-up if the endpoint of interest had not been met.

Statistical analyses

BPs were evaluated as both continuous and categorical variables using the median value. The intergroup comparisons of clinicopathologic variables were performed using the analysis of variance and Kruskal–Wallis tests for continuous variables (depending on the distribution of the continuous variables) and the Chi square and two-tailed Fisher’s exact tests for discrete variables. Postoperative survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. A univariate screening of potential risk factors of mortality using the Cox proportional hazards model for each variable extracted from medical records was performed. All significant risk factors in the univariate analysis were included in the multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazards model to identify independent risk factors. SBP, DBP, and mid-BP were never analyzed in the same model because of their multicollinearity. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22.0 software for Windows (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). All tests were two-sided, and P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

Baseline characteristics

Baseline demographic and clinicopathologic data of the entire cohort and each group by postoperative SBP are summarized in Table 1. Of the 358 patients included in this study, 204 were men and 154 were women, with a median age of 60 years (range, 21–89 years). Of the 358 patients, 199 (55.6%) were categorized as underweight or normal weight, 135 (37.7%) were categorized as overweight or obese, and 24 (6.7%) had unknown BMI. In the entire cohort, 66 patients (18.4%) had a history of hypertension and long-term regular use of antihypertensive drugs; in the preoperative evaluation, 72 (20.1%) were categorized as having systolic hypertension (SBP ≥ 140 mmHg), 171 (47.8%) as having systolic prehypertension (SBP = 120–140 mmHg), 107 (29.9%) as having normal SBP (SBP < 120 mmHg), and 8 (2.2%) had unknown BP. The postoperative SBP, DBP, and mid-BP were statistically distributed with medians of 109.5 (80.0–171.0), 65.0 (42.5–102.0), and 87.5 (64.5–122.3) mmHg, respectively. The AJCC staging of rectal cancer in the entire cohort was distributed as 26.0%, 32.1%, and 41.9% for stage I, II, and III, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found between patients with postoperative SBP < 120 and ≥ 120 mmHg regarding demographic, morphometric, therapeutic regimen, and tumor characteristics; however, statistically significant differences were found in preoperative hypertension (42.0% vs. 11.6%, P < 0.001) and history of hypertension (41.0% vs. 9.7%, P < 0.001) between the high-postoperative SBP group and the low-postoperative SBP group.

Table 1 Baseline characteristics and distribution of clinicopathologic variables for the 358 patients with rectal cancer

Univariate and multivariate analyses of survival

Median follow-up time was 42 months (range, 37–85 months). Kaplan–Meier curves showed significantly lower 3-year DFS rate (67.2% vs. 82.1%, P = 0.041) and CSS rate (81.9% vs. 94.8%, P = 0.003) in the high-preoperative SBP group than in the low-preoperative SBP group. Similarly, patients in the high-postoperative SBP group had a significantly lower 3-year CSS rate (78.3% vs. 88.9%, P = 0.032) than patients in the low-postoperative SBP group, whereas the difference in the DFS rate (65.1% vs. 75.0%, P = 0.326) was not significant (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2
figure 2

Kaplan–Meier survival curves of rectal cancer patients with different preoperative and postoperative BPs. The curves showed significantly lower DFS (a) and CSS (b) rates in the high-preoperative SBP group than in the low-preoperative SBP group. Patients in the high-postoperative SBP group had significantly lower CSS (d) rates, whereas the differences in the DFS curves (c) were not significant. SBP systolic blood pressure, DFS disease-free survival, CSS cancer-specific survival

Univariate analysis showed that old age, advanced AJCC stage, vascular invasion, perineural invasion, elevated CEA level, low rectal cancer, and high pre- and postoperative BP were all significantly associated with increased mortality (Tables 2, 3). Specifically, HRs for BP and survival for total cases and for patients in each subset are shown in Table 3. In preoperative evaluation, patients with high SBP had lower 3-year DFS and CSS rates compared with patients with low SBP, the HRs of which were 1.87 (95% CI, 1.11–3.17, P = 0.019) and 4.18 (95% CI, 1.48–11.83, P = 0.007), respectively; in postoperative evaluation, these HRs for SBP were 1.26 (95% CI, 0.79–1.98, P = 0.330) and 1.99 (95% CI, 1.05–3.78, P = 0.035), respectively. The HR of the CSS rate for postoperative mid-BP was 2.34 (95% CI 1.16–4.72, P = 0.018).

Table 2 Univariate analysis of prognostic factors for DFS and CSS
Table 3 Univariate analysis of the association between BPs and survival outcome

In multivariate analysis, old age, advanced AJCC stage, perineural invasion, low rectal cancer, adjuvant treatment regimen, and high preoperative SBP (adjusted HR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.08–3.60, P = 0.028) were still significantly associated with 3-year DFS rate. Advanced AJCC stage, elevated preoperative CEA level, low rectal cancer, adjuvant treatment regimen, and high preoperative SBP (adjusted HR = 2.85, 95% CI = 1.00–8.25, P = 0.050) had independently significant prediction value on 3-year CSS. Nevertheless, postoperative SBP did not remain significant in the model for either DFS or CSS (Table 4).

Table 4 Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors for DFS and CSS

Analyses on subsets of patients without history of hypertension

Further subset analyses were conducted to determine if the above association between perioperative BP and survival depends on the long-term negative effect of patients’ history of hypertension on tumorigenesis and cancer mortality. For 292 patients without a history of hypertension, the HRs of CSS for pre- and postoperative SBP were 3.84 (95% CI, 1.34–11.05, P = 0.012) and 2.77 (95% CI, 1.36–5.66, P = 0.005), respectively, whereas these associations were not significant in patients with a history of hypertension (Table 3). To further validate if the verified association with cancer risk depends on the negative effect of antihypertensive drugs, we excluded 86 patients with a history of hypertension and/or perioperative administration of antihypertensive drugs (Fig. 1); the survival outcomes were compared between the low-SBP group and the high-SBP group. In the analyses of the remaining 272 patients, the HRs were 3.36 (95% CI, 1.15–9.84, P = 0.027) and 2.15 (95% CI, 0.71–3.39, P = 0.076), respectively.

Other associations of SBPs were analyzed for DFS and/or CSS among the subsets by sex and BMI (Table 3). In men, the HR of CSS for postoperative SBP was 3.37 (95% CI, 1.00–11.39, P = 0.050), whereas in women, the association was not significant. Interestingly, neither pre- nor postoperative SBP was significantly associated with survival in 135 patients with a BMI ≥ 23 kg/m2.

Discussion

Our study showed that perioperative BP is negatively associated with survival outcome in patients with rectal cancer. In agreement with our hypothesis, 3-year CSS was associated with high pre- and postoperative BP in patients with rectal cancer treated with radical surgery, and high preoperative SBP was an independent risk factor. These findings were confirmed after we stratified patients and only looked at the tumors of patients without a history of hypertension.

The role of high BP as a possible risk factor for cancer mortality was first proposed in 1975 by Dyer et al. [10] and has since been examined in various cohort studies. In most studies, BP was measured at the time of the baseline health examination when patients were enrolled, and to date only Park’s study—on renal carcinoma—addressed the association between perioperative BP and mortality [18]. However, the investigators examined the association between perioperative BP and renal carcinoma mortality without stratification by history of hypertension and adjustment for some potential confounding factors. Since it is well established that hypertension has an unfavorable effect on tumorigenesis and cancer mortality over a long period of time and that a history of hypertension is positively linked with perioperative BP, Park’s study was not able to determine the association between perioperative BP and cancer risk. In our analyses on subsets of patients without a history of hypertension, the remained association between high perioperative SBP and CSS risk indicated that the efforts to control BP in perioperative care may extend survival for this population. However, we did not exclude the possibility that undiagnosed hypertension and hypertension developed after the surgery affected our results. Moreover, the targets for BP control should be determined in a larger cohort.

Many large trials have provided unassailable evidence that antihypertensive therapy lowers cardiovascular morbidity and mortality [1921]. However, not all studies have demonstrated a significant association between antihypertensive treatment and overall mortality [22]; indeed, others have reported that the association is diminished over time [20]. Since then, many studies continued to report a putative link between antihypertensive drugs and cancer, with diuretics being the most frequently cited suspect. These findings thus prompt the question: is high BP associated with increased cancer mortality, or is the use of antihypertensive therapy implicated? After excluding the patients with a history of hypertension and perioperative administration of antihypertensive drugs, the analyses were repeated in our study. The results remained virtually unchanged. Since our results from a series of subset analyses suggested cancer mortality is associated with perioperative high BP, diuretics could be substituted for other classes of antihypertensive drugs, although diuretics are currently recommended as the first-line treatment for patients with hypertension [23].

The biological mechanisms that could account for the association between hypertension and elevated cancer mortality remain unclear. Studies have suggested that hypertension and malignancy might share several common biochemical pathways leading to proliferative abnormalities in vascular smooth muscle cells [24], increased level of inositol triphosphate and cytosolic calcium [25], and abnormalities in carcinogen binding to DNA in lymphocytes [26], which are associated with both hypertension and tumorigenesis. Furthermore, factors related to hypertension, such as age, smoking, and alcohol consumption, might contribute to increased cancer mortality. However, these hypotheses and findings could not account for the involvement of high perioperative SBP that is independent of a history of hypertension in cancer mortality. Therefore, we hypothesized that surgical procedures may augment the release of cancer cells into circulation [27], and then high BP in the perioperative period might enable the circulating cancer cells to penetrate blood vessels, which partially contributes to local recurrence, distant metastasis, and cancer-specific death.

Our results indicate that the cancer-specific death risk of high SBP is higher and statistically significant in men and in patients with a low BMI, which is consistent with the findings from previous study of all-site cancer and colorectal cancer [6]. Male sex, BMI, elevated perioperative BP, and hypertension can be related, with a possibility of a more complex pattern among these factors in the risk of cancer-specific death.

Nevertheless, our study does have limitations. First, regarding the subgroup analyses, we were not able to determine the patients’ precise overall use of antihypertensive drugs; therefore, the quantification of risks as presented may not be valid. Second, this was a retrospective study and thus was limited by unknown confounders owing to its observational nature, although some variables were controlled. Although BP was predictive in our study, future studies in larger or prospective cohorts are necessary to validate the association.

Conclusions

This study showed that high preoperative SBP was an independent risk factor for both CSS and DFS and that high postoperative SBP was significantly associated with poor CSS. Furthermore, our subset analyses suggested that the unfavorable effect of high BP is independent of a patient’s history of hypertension and use of antihypertensive drugs. Additionally, our results suggest that patients with rectal cancer may get survival benefit from BP control in perioperative care. However, future studies should determine this association and identify the targets of BP control.

References

  1. Siegel RL, Miller KD, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2015. CA Cancer J Clin. 2015;65:5–29.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Chen WQ, Zheng RS, Zhang SW, Zeng HM, Zou XN. The incidences and mortalities of major cancers in China, 2010. Chin J Cancer. 2014;33:402–5.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Zhou Q, Li K, Lin GZ, Shen JC, Dong H, Gu YT, et al. Incidence trends and age distribution of colorectal cancer by subsite in Guangzhou, 2000–2011. Chin J Cancer. 2015;34:34.

    Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Reimers MS, Zeestraten EC, Kuppen PJ, Liefers GJ, van de Velde CJ. Biomarkers in precision therapy in colorectal cancer. Gastroenterol Rep (Oxf). 2013;1:166–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Whitworth JA. 2003 World Health Organization (WHO)/International Society of Hypertension (ISH) statement on management of hypertension. J Hypertens. 2003;21:1983–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Stocks T, Van Hemelrijck M, Manjer J, Bjorge T, Ulmer H, Hallmans G, et al. Blood pressure and risk of cancer incidence and mortality in the metabolic syndrome and cancer project. Hypertension. 2012;59:802–10.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Grossman E, Messerli FH, Boyko V, Goldbourt U. Is there an association between hypertension and cancer mortality. Am J Med. 2002;112:479–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Schneider BP, Wang M, Radovich M, Sledge GW, Badve S, Thor A, et al. Association of vascular endothelial growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 genetic polymorphisms with outcome in a trial of paclitaxel compared with paclitaxel plus bevacizumab in advanced breast cancer: ECOG 2100. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26:4672–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Stocks T, Lukanova A, Johansson M, Rinaldi S, Palmqvist R, Hallmans G, et al. Components of the metabolic syndrome and colorectal cancer risk; a prospective study. Int J Obes (Lond). 2008;32:304–14.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Dyer AR, Stamler J, Berkson DM, Lindberg HA, Stevens E. High blood-pressure: a risk factor for cancer mortality. Lancet. 1975;1:1051–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Wannamethee G, Shaper AG. Blood pressure and cancer in middle-aged British men. Int J Epidemiol. 1996;25:22–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Peeters PH, van Noord PA, Hoes AW, Grobbee DE. Hypertension, antihypertensive drugs, and mortality from cancer among women. J Hypertens. 1998;16:941–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Schmoll HJ, Van Cutsem E, Stein A, et al. ESMO consensus guidelines for management of patients with colon and rectal cancer. a personalized approach to clinical decision making. Ann Oncol. 2012;23(10):2479–516.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. WHO, Expert Consultation. Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations and its implications for policy and intervention strategies. Lancet. 2004;363:157–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Lewington S, Clarke R, Qizilbash N, Peto R, Collins R. Age-specific relevance of usual blood pressure to vascular mortality: a meta-analysis of individual data for one million adults in 61 prospective studies. Lancet. 2002;360:1903–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Chobanian AV, Bakris GL, Black HR, Cushman WC, Green LA, Izzo JL Jr, et al. The seventh report of the Joint National Committee on prevention, detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure: the JNC 7 report. JAMA. 2003;289:2560–72.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Deng Y, Zhou J, Fang L, Cai Y, Ke J, Xie X, et al. ALDH1 is an independent prognostic factor for patients with stages II–III rectal cancer after receiving radiochemotherapy. Br J Cancer. 2014;110:430–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Park B, Jeong BC, Seo SI, Jeon SS, Choi HY, Lee HM. Influence of body mass index, smoking, and blood pressure on survival of patients with surgically-treated, low stage renal cell carcinoma: a 14-year retrospective cohort study. J Korean Med Sci. 2013;28:227–36.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Staessen JA, Fagard R, Thijs L, Celis H, Arabidze GG, Birkenhager WH, et al. Randomised double-blind comparison of placebo and active treatment for older patients with isolated systolic hypertension. The systolic hypertension in Europe (Syst-Eur) trial investigators. Lancet. 1997;350:757–64.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Lindholm LH, Anderson H, Ekbom T, Hansson L, Lanke J, Dahlof B, et al. Relation between drug treatment and cancer in hypertensives in the Swedish trial in old patients with hypertension 2: a 5-year, prospective, randomised, controlled trial. Lancet. 2001;358:539–44.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Dahlof B, Sever PS, Poulter NR, Wedel H, Beevers DG, Caulfield M, et al. Prevention of cardiovascular events with an antihypertensive regimen of amlodipine adding perindopril as required versus atenolol adding bendroflumethiazide as required, in the Anglo-Scandinavian cardiac outcomes trial-blood pressure lowering arm (ASCOT-BPLA): a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2005;366:895–906.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. SHEP Cooperative Research Group. Prevention of stroke by antihypertensive drug treatment in older persons with isolated systolic hypertension. Final results of the systolic hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP). JAMA. 1991;265:3255–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. James PA, Oparil S, Carter BL, Cushman WC, Dennison-Himmelfarb C, Handler J, et al. 2014 evidence-based guideline for the management of high blood pressure in adults: report from the panel members appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8). JAMA. 2014;311:507–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Hamet P. Cancer and hypertension: a potential for crosstalk. J Hypertens. 1997;15:1573–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Meyer P. Increased intracellular calcium: from hypertension to cancer. J Hypertens Suppl. 1987;5:S3–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Norden A, Schersten B, Thulin T, Pero RW, Bryngelsson C, Mitelman F. Letter: hypertension related to D.N.A. repair synthesis and carcinogen uptake. Lancet. 1975;2:1094.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Lundy J. Anesthesia and surgery: a double-edged sword for the cancer patient. J Surg Oncol. 1980;14:61–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors’ contributions

JPW, HCY, and YXL conceived and designed the study. HCY, ZHY, and XLW collected the data. HCY, HP, YXL, LK, MJH, and LW analyzed and interpreted the data. HCY, YXL, HP, and LW drafted the manuscript. JPW revised the manuscript critically for important intellectual content. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgements

Support for this study was provided by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (No. 2015CB554001, JW), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81472257, YL; No. 81201920, YL; No. 81502022, XW), the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (No. S2013010013607, YL), the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou (No. 201506010099, YL), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Sun Yat-sen University) (No. 2015ykzd10, YL; No. 13ykpy37, YL), and Wu Jieping Medical Foundation (320675015173 HY).

Competing interests

The authors report no proprietary or commercial interest in any product mentioned or concept discussed in this article. The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Yan-Xin Luo or Jian-Ping Wang.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yu, HC., Luo, YX., Peng, H. et al. Association of perioperative blood pressure with long-term survival in rectal cancer patients. Chin J Cancer 35, 38 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40880-016-0100-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40880-016-0100-8

Keywords