Study Reveals How Beta Blockers May Halt Cancer Progression

Researchers at Monash University have discovered how a common medication called beta blockers might help slow the growth of triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. The findings could lead to better treatment options for patients in the future.

When the body experiences stress, it releases hormones that can activate a receptor called the beta-2 adrenoceptor. This receptor can make TNBC tumors grow and spread more quickly. Beta blockers are medications designed to block the effects of stress hormones, and past studies suggested they might help slow cancer progression. Until now, scientists did not fully understand why beta blockers worked for some patients but not others.

In this study, the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences team found that a specific gene, called HOXC12, plays a critical role in controlling tumor growth. The researchers discovered that when HOXC12 is active, it triggers a chain reaction involving two cell signals, called cAMP and calcium, which helps cancer cells spread. Using a gene-editing tool, the team removed HOXC12 and found that the chain reaction stopped, slowing tumor progression.

This finding suggests that testing patients for the presence of HOXC12 could help doctors predict who would benefit most from beta blocker therapy. The researchers also analyzed patient data and found that TNBC patients with high levels of HOXC12 had lower survival rates, which makes this gene an important marker for treatment decisions.

Lead researcher Associate Professor Michelle Halls explained that the study brings scientists closer to understanding why beta blockers can reduce the risk of metastasis, or the spread of cancer, in some TNBC patients. The discovery could guide doctors in prescribing beta blockers at the time of diagnosis and improve treatment outcomes.

Triple-negative breast cancer is especially challenging to treat because it does not respond to many common therapies. Identifying new pathways like this gives researchers hope for better, more targeted treatments that could improve survival rates. Further studies are planned to confirm how HOXC12 can be used to guide treatment strategies for patients diagnosed with TNBC.