The benefits of beta-blocker treatment in triple negative breast cancer patients

This study investigated the potential benefit of beta blocker treatment in triple negative breast cancer patients. In this study, patients already receiving long term treatment with beta blockers before the diagnosis of cancer were investigated to examine the effect on cancer outcome.

Beta blockers are a class of drugs which have been used for many years to treat conditions such as high blood pressure, heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. Recent studies have shown that beta blockers may also reduce the risk of developing cancer. Some studies have even suggested that beta blocker treatment before the diagnosis of cancer provides a benefit in the prognosis of patients with several cancer types (such as breast, lung, prostate and ovarian cancer). If these finding are confirmed, beta blockers may provide a new therapeutic strategy in the treatment of triple negative breast cancer.  

The records of 800 postmenopausal women who were operated on for early triple negative breast cancer between 1997 and 2008 were reviewed. The aim of this study was to investigate if the use of beta blockers before the diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer reduced the rate of recurrence and increased overall survival. Of the 800 patients included in this study, 74 were receiving beta blockers at the time of diagnosis. 

Results showed that patients receiving beta blockers experienced significantly fewer events of metastatic recurrence compared to those not receiving beta blockers. Among patients not receiving beta blockers 110 patients (15.2%) experienced metastatic recurrence of the cancer. This compared to only 3 patients (4.1%) among those receiving beta blocker treatment. The number of deaths caused directly as a result of the cancer (also called cancer specific mortality, or CSM) was also reduced in those treated with beta blockers. CSM was 8.1% of patients treated with beta blockers, compared to 19.4% of patients not receiving beta blockers.

Overall this study showed that the current use of beta blockers in patients diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer is beneficial in reducing recurrences and improving survival. A larger, controlled, investigation into the benefits of beta blockers as additional treatment after the diagnosis of breast cancer is warranted.

The number of patients receiving beta blocker treatment in this study was very small. In addition, no information was provided regarding beta blocker treatment after diagnosis. More research is needed before conclusive recommendations can be made regarding the use beta blockers in the treatment of breast cancer.