Could beta-blockers improve survival in colorectal cancer?

This study investigated the association between survival and beta-blocker use in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignant diseases worldwide. Despite recent advances in treatments such surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, survival rates among advanced colorectal cancer patients remain low.

Recent studies have suggested that beta-blocker use may be associated with prolonged survival in some cancers, including breast and prostate cancer. Beta-blockers are a commonly used class of drugs used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, heart attacks and abnormal heart rhythms. Beta-blockers are also believed to inhibit the migration of cancer cells, an important step in tumor metastasis (the spread of the cancer to other organs). However, limited evidence exists regarding the association of beta-blocker use and colorectal cancer outcomes.

This study included 1820 patients with colorectal cancer of any stage. 509 patients were found to be regularly using beta-blockers (prescribed for unrelated conditions). Patients were followed for an average of 5 years following surgery to determine the association between beta-blocker use and survival.

Among all patients, including all cancer stages, the use of beta-blockers at the time of diagnosis was not found to be significantly associated with cancer outcomes. However, when analysis was performed for each cancer stage separately, overall survival and colorectal cancer-specific survival  were found to be significantly prolonged among stage IV cancer patients regularly using beta-blockers. Among stage IV patients, overall survival was prolonged by an average of 18 months for beta-blocker users compared to non-users. Colorectal cancer-specific survival (taking into account only mortality directly as a result of colorectal cancer) was prolonged by an average of 17 months for beta-blocker users compared to non-users.

This study concluded that beta-blocker use was significantly associated with prolonged survival among metastatic colorectal cancer patients.