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Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Characterization of Cell Membrane Extensions and Studying Their Roles in Cancer Cell Adhesion Dynamics
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Role of adrenergic receptors and their blocking in cancer research

Simona Gazova1, Ladislav Klena1, Kristina Galvankova1

  • 1Institute of Clinical and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.

Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & Pharmacotherapie
|October 9, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Adrenergic signaling, involving catecholamines, plays a role in cancer. Adrenergic receptor blockers, like alpha- and beta-blockers, show promise for repurposing as cancer therapies, with ongoing research in preclinical and clinical studies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Adrenergic signaling, driven by catecholamines, is implicated in carcinogenesis, potentially linked to chronic stress.
  • Adrenergic receptors (ARs) are increasingly recognized for their role in tumor initiation and progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of adrenergic receptors' role in carcinogenesis.
  • To explore the potential of selective and non-selective adrenergic receptor blockers in treating various tumor types.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on adrenergic signaling in cancer.
  • Analysis of in vitro, preclinical, and clinical data on the efficacy of adrenergic blockers.

Main Results:

  • Alpha- (α) and beta- (β) blockers demonstrate promising effects against cancer-related cellular processes.
  • These effects have been observed across in vitro, preclinical, and clinical research settings.
  • Repurposing of existing adrenergic blockers as cancer therapeutics is a key area of investigation.

Conclusions:

  • Adrenergic receptor blockers represent a potential therapeutic strategy for certain cancers.
  • Further research and clinical studies are warranted to fully establish their efficacy and safety in cancer treatment.
Keywords:
Adrenergic receptorsAlpha-blockersBeta-blockersCancerStress

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