Review Article
β-blockers: a novel class of antitumor agents
Yi Ji, Siyuan Chen, Xianmin Xiao, Shan Zheng, Kai Li
Published:
DOI:
10.2147/OTT.S38403
License:
© 2012 Ji et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd.2012This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
β-adrenergic signaling modulates key signaling pathways that are important for tumor-promoting processes, and numerous mechanisms of action have been elucidated. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that β-adrenergic antagonists, or β-blockers, can block multiple fundamental biologic processes underlying the progression and metastasis of tumors, including the inhibition of cell proliferation, migration, invasion, resistance to programmed cell death, and tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. Human pharmacoepidemiologic studies suggest that β-blockers have a role in inhibiting cancer progression and metastasis in combination with standard therapies. Furthermore, a number of prospective studies have demonstrated that β-blockers are effective at halting infantile hemangioma growth. These findings shed light on the novel perspective of using β-blockers as a class of potential antitumor agents in clinical oncology.