Erschienen in:
05.10.2016 | Review – Clinical Oncology
β-Adrenergic modulation of cancer cell proliferation: available evidence and clinical perspectives
verfasst von:
Marisa Coelho, Cátia Soares-Silva, Daniela Brandão, Franca Marino, Marco Cosentino, Laura Ribeiro
Erschienen in:
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology
|
Ausgabe 2/2017
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Abstract
Purpose
In this review, we aimed to present and discuss the available preclinical and epidemiological evidences regarding the modulation of cancer cell proliferation by β-adrenoceptors (β-AR), with a specific focus on the putative effects of β-blockers according to their pharmacological properties.
Methods
A comprehensive review of the published literature was conducted, and the evidences concerning the involvement of β-AR in cancer as well as the possible role of β-blockers were selected and discussed.
Results
The majority of reviewed studies show that: (1) All the cancer types express both β1- and β2-AR, with the exception of neuroblastoma only seeming to express β2-AR; (2) adrenergic agonists are able to increase proliferation of several types of cancers; (3) the proliferative effect seems to be mediated by both β1- and β2-AR; (4) binding to β-AR results in a cAMP transient flux which activates two major downstream effector systems: protein kinase A and EPAC and (5) β-blockers might be putative adjuvants for cancer treatment.
Conclusions
Overall, the reviewed studies show strong evidences that β-AR activation, through several intracellular mechanisms, modulate tumor cell proliferation suggesting β-blockers can be a feasible therapeutic approach to antagonize β-adrenergic response or have a protective effect per se. This review highlight the need for intensifying the research not only on the molecular mechanisms underlying the β-adrenergic influence in cancer, but also on the implications of biased agonism of β-blockers as potential antitumor agents.