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REVIEW article

Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Experimental Pharmacology and Drug Discovery
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1423502
This article is part of the Research Topic Old Drugs: Confronting Recent Advancements and Challenges View all 10 articles

The possibility of off-label uses of β-blockers and statins in the breast, colorectal, prostate and lung cancers: an update

Provisionally accepted
Pedro G. Braga Pedro G. Braga 1Janaina d. Vieira Janaina d. Vieira 1Aline R. Gurgel Aline R. Gurgel 1Patricia C. Brum Patricia C. Brum 1,2*
  • 1 Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Exercise Physiology. School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
  • 2 Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Despite advances in cancer treatment, current cancer incidence and prevalence still demand multimodal treatments to enhance survival and clinical outcomes. Drugs used in cardiology, such as β-blockers and statins have gained attention for their potential roles in oncology. This study focuses on their possible complementary use in solid tumors, including breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers. The involvement of the autonomic nervous system in promoting tumor growth can be disrupted by β-blockers, potentially hindering cancer progression. Statins, known for their pleiotropic effects, may also inhibit cancer growth by reducing cholesterol availability, a key factor in cell proliferation. We will provide an update on the impact of these therapies on cancer treatment and surveillance, discuss the underlying mechanisms, and explore their effects on the heart, contributing to the growing field of cardio-oncology.

    Keywords: Drug Repositioning, Solid cancer, beta-blockers, statin, Survival

    Received: 25 Apr 2024; Accepted: 17 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Braga, Vieira, Gurgel and Brum. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Patricia C. Brum, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Exercise Physiology. School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-030, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.