Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 16, 2026

Screening Ion Channels in Cancer Cells
06:19

Screening Ion Channels in Cancer Cells

Published on: June 16, 2023

β-blockers: a novel class of antitumor agents

Yi Ji1, Siyuan Chen, Xianmin Xiao

  • 1Division of Oncology, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Oncotargets and Therapy
|December 11, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Beta-adrenergic antagonists, or beta-blockers, show promise in cancer treatment by inhibiting tumor growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Clinical studies suggest their efficacy in combination with standard therapies and for infantile hemangioma.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Beta-adrenergic signaling pathways are implicated in tumor promotion.
  • Understanding these pathways is crucial for developing novel cancer therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the potential of beta-adrenergic antagonists (beta-blockers) as antitumor agents.
  • To review evidence on the mechanisms and clinical efficacy of beta-blockers in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Review of preclinical studies on beta-blocker effects on tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis resistance, angiogenesis, and metastasis.
  • Analysis of human pharmacoepidemiologic and prospective studies investigating beta-blocker use in cancer patients and infantile hemangioma.

Main Results:

  • Preclinical data indicate beta-blockers inhibit key tumor-promoting processes.
  • Human studies suggest beta-blockers can enhance standard cancer therapies and halt infantile hemangioma growth.
  • Beta-blockers demonstrate multifaceted anti-tumorigenic effects.

Conclusions:

  • Beta-blockers represent a potential novel class of antitumor agents.
  • Further clinical investigation into beta-blockers for cancer treatment is warranted.
  • The findings support the repurposing of beta-blockers in clinical oncology.
Keywords:
angiogenesiscancermetastasisprogressionβ-adrenergic signalingβ-blockers

More Related Videos

Potentiation of Anticancer Antibody Efficacy by Antineoplastic Drugs: Detection of Antibody-drug Synergism Using the Combination Index Equation15:04

Potentiation of Anticancer Antibody Efficacy by Antineoplastic Drugs: Detection of Antibody-drug Synergism Using the Combination Index Equation

Published on: January 19, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Adrenergic Antagonists: Chemistry and Classification of β-Receptor Blockers01:25

Adrenergic Antagonists: Chemistry and Classification of β-Receptor Blockers

β-adrenergic antagonists, or β-blockers, modulate the sympathetic nervous system by targeting β-adrenoceptors and inhibiting catecholamine-mediated sympathetic responses. β-blockers differ in their adrenoceptor subtype affinity, lipophilicity, and α-blocking capabilities. The history of β-blocker development began with the prototype, dichloroisoprenaline, which exhibited partial agonist activity. As a result, propranolol was developed as a pure antagonist but nonselective agent, paving the way...
Adrenergic Antagonists: ɑ and β-Receptor Blockers01:31

Adrenergic Antagonists: ɑ and β-Receptor Blockers

Third-generation β-blockers, such as labetalol and carvedilol, represent a significant advancement in managing cardiovascular conditions. Unlike conventional β-blockers, which can induce peripheral vasoconstriction, third-generation drugs block α1 adrenoceptors. This promotes vasodilation through several mechanisms, such as increased nitric oxide production, inhibition of calcium ion entry, opening of potassium ion channels, and antioxidant action. Labetalol, for instance, is clinically...
Adrenergic Antagonists: Pharmacological Actions of β-Receptor Blockers01:27

Adrenergic Antagonists: Pharmacological Actions of β-Receptor Blockers

β-receptor blockers significantly impact the cardiovascular system by counteracting catecholamine-induced sympathetic responses. These medications decrease heart rate, contractility, and cardiac output, potentially leading to cardiac depression, life-threatening bradycardia, and death. Therapeutically, β-blockers function as mild antihypertensives and are utilized in treating angina pectoris and cardiac arrhythmias. However, nonselective β-blockers inhibit β2-receptors in bronchial smooth...
Adrenergic Antagonists: Chemistry and Classification of ɑ-Receptor Blockers01:17

Adrenergic Antagonists: Chemistry and Classification of ɑ-Receptor Blockers

Adrenergic antagonists, or sympatholytics, inhibit adrenoceptor activation driven by catecholamines or agonists. Based on their adrenoceptor specificity, adrenergic blockers can be categorized into two primary groups: α-adrenergic blockers (α-blockers) and β-adrenergic blockers (β-blockers). α-blockers interact with α1 and α2 subtypes of α-adrenoceptors.
Nonselective α-blockers: Nonselective α-blockers contain haloalkylamine or imidazoline moieties. Phenoxybenzamine, with a haloalkylamine...
Antihypertensive Drugs: Types of β-Blockers01:28

Antihypertensive Drugs: Types of β-Blockers

β receptors are classified into three subclasses: β1, β2, and β3. β1 receptors are primarily located in the heart and kidneys. When they get activated, they increase heart rate, contractility, and renin release. This process enhances blood pressure and aids in stress management. In contrast, β2 receptors are situated mainly in the lungs, blood vessels, and skeletal muscles. Upon activation, they trigger smooth muscle relaxation, causing bronchodilation and vasodilation. This widens airways and...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers01:24

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers

Adrenergic stimulation generally impacts cardiac rate and rhythm. Specifically, stimulation of the β-adrenoceptors triggers an increase in intracellular calcium ion influx and pacemaker currents, which may cause arrhythmias. Catecholamines like adrenaline also demonstrate β2-adrenoceptor-mediated hypokalemia, impacting cardiac action potential and disrupting the normal cardiac rhythm. Class II antiarrhythmic drugs are β-adrenoceptor antagonists or β-blockers, which indirectly block calcium...