Repurposing Drugs in Oncology (ReDO)—Propranolol as an anti-cancer agent

Abstract

Propranolol (PRO) is a well-known and widely used non-selective beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist (beta-blocker), with a range of actions which are of interest in an oncological context. PRO displays effects on cellular proliferation and invasion, on the immune system, on the angiogenic cascade, and on tumour cell sensitivity to existing treatments. Both pre-clinical and clinical evidence of these effects, in multiple cancer types, is assessed and summarised and relevant mechanisms of action outlined. In particular there is evidence that PRO is effective at multiple points in the metastatic cascade, particularly in the context of the post-surgical wound response. Based on this evidence the case is made for further clinical investigation of the anticancer effects of PRO, particularly in combination with other agents. A number of trials are on-going, in different treatment settings for various cancers.

The prescribable drugs with efficacy in experimental epilepsies (PDE3) database for drug repurposing research in epilepsy

“…Such a model of, first, creating a database of potentially repurposable drugs and, then, iteratively selecting the most promising candidate drugs for detailed review and publication, has been enacted in other disease areas, for example, the Repurposing Drugs in Oncology (ReDO) Project. 12,[29][30][31][32] We advocate the adoption of this paradigm for epilepsy, based upon the PDE3 database. The reviewed and highlighted potentially repurposable drugs can be analyzed further through retrospective analysis of electronic health record data and, finally, taken into human clinical trials.…”

The curious case of repurposed remedies

“…ReDO gathered the reports together into a clinical summary and helped the drug gain an orphan drug designation by the European Commission in 2017 . The nonprofits currently are working with clinicians to fund a clinical trial.…”

The ABC7 regimen: a new approach to metastatic breast cancer using seven common drugs to inhibit epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and augment capecitabine efficacy

“…Introduced in the 1960s, it is still in wide use to treat hypertension, migraine, angina, selected arrhythmias, essential tremor, resolution of infantile hematomas, and in reducing the cardiac effects (tachycardia) due to acute anxiety. Propranolol’s general cancer process inhibiting attributes were recently reviewed 184. Below are selected data supporting propranolol’s use specifically as adjunct in breast cancer treatment.…”