title: 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 new potential for their use as anti-cancer drugs has emerged in the past few years. Various retrospective case control studies have been suggestive that use of β-blockers before the diagnosis of cancer could have preventive and protective 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, indications are pointing toward a positive role of some β-blockers against certain forms of cancers. This mini review is an effort to present the up to date published results of case-control studies and experimental findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia E-mail : shahidakbar@sbcglobal.net.
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akbar
authors.forename: Mansour Saleh
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Alsharidah
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002395:Catecholamines