Are Beta Blockers New Potential Anticancer Agents?

Abstract

β-Blockers have been one of the most widely used and versatile drugs for the past half a century. A newpotential for their use as anti-cancer drugs has emerged in the past few years. Various retrospective case controlstudies have been suggestive that use of β-blockers before the diagnosis of cancer could have preventive andprotective effects against non-small cell lung carcinoma, melanoma, and breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers.Experimental and clinical observations are still inconclusive with some inconsistent findings. However, indicationsare pointing toward a positive role of some β-blockers against certain forms of cancers. This mini review is aneffort to present the up to date published results of case-control studies and experimental findings.