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Embaby A, Heinhuis KM, IJzerman NS, Koenen AM, van der Kleij S, Hofland I, van Boven H, Sanders J, van der Graaf WTA, Haas RL, Huitema ADR, van Houdt WJ, Steeghs N. Propranolol monotherapy in angiosarcoma - A window-of-opportunity study (PropAngio). Eur J Cancer 2024; 202:113974. [PMID: 38452721 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2024.113974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angiosarcoma is a rare and aggressive cancer of the endothelial cells. Propranolol, a non-selective β-blocker, was able to initiate apoptosis in angiosarcoma cell lines and its anti-tumor activity has been described in several case reports. The aim of this trial was to prospectively evaluate the anti-tumor activity of propranolol monotherapy in patients with angiosarcoma before proceeding to standard of care treatment. METHODS Propranolol was dosed 80 mg to 240 mg/day for 3 to 6 weeks according to a dose titration schedule. The primary endpoint was clinical response (response according to RECIST 1.1 or stable disease with improvement of cutaneous lesions) in at least three patients. Exploratory objectives included histologic response (>30% decrease in Ki-67), FDG PET response, and β-receptor expression levels. RESULTS Fourteen patients were enrolled. The median duration of treatment was 26 days (range 21-42 days). The median highest propranolol dose was 160 mg/day (range 80 - 240 mg). Two patients showed clinical response (14%, 95% CI 3-100%). One of these patients showed a partial metabolic response on PET-CT. None of the tumors showed histologic response. The most common adverse event was grade 1/2 bradycardia (86%). There were no grade ≥ 3 adverse events. ADRB2 was overexpressed in 16 out of 18 tumors, in both responders and non-responders. None of the tumors showed ADRB1 overexpression. CONCLUSIONS This window-of-opportunity trial did not show clinical efficacy of propranolol monotherapy. However, two out of 14 patients did show clinical benefit. ADRB1/2 expression did not correlate with clinical response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaa Embaby
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Clinical Pharmacology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
| | - Kimberley M Heinhuis
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Clinical Pharmacology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Nikki S IJzerman
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Clinical Pharmacology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Anne Miek Koenen
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Stephanie van der Kleij
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ingrid Hofland
- Core Facility Molecular Pathology & Biobanking, The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hester van Boven
- Department of Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Joyce Sanders
- Department of Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Winette T A van der Graaf
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rick L Haas
- Department of Radiotherapy, The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Alwin D R Huitema
- Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Pharmacology, Princess Màxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands; Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Winan J van Houdt
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Neeltje Steeghs
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Nair SG, Benny S, Jose WM, Aneesh T P. Beta-blocker adjunct therapy as a prospective anti-metastatic with cardio-oncologic regulation. Clin Exp Metastasis 2024; 41:9-24. [PMID: 38177715 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-023-10258-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
The prevailing treatment stratagem in cancer therapy still challenges the dilemma of a probable metastatic spread following an initial diagnosis. Including an anti-metastatic agent demands a significant focus to overrule the incidence of treatment failures. Adrenergic stimulation underlying the metastatic spread paved the way for beta blockers as a breakthrough in repurposing as an anti-metastatic agent. However, the current treatment approach fails to fully harness the versatile potential of the drug in inhibiting probable metastasis. The beta blockers were seen to show a myriad of grip over the pro-metastatic and prognostic parameters of the patient. Novel interventions in immune therapy, onco-hypertension, surgery-induced stress, induction of apoptosis and angiogenesis inhibition have been used as evidence to interpret our objective of discussing the potential adjuvant role of the drug in the existing anti-cancer regimens. Adding weight to the relative incidence of onco-hypertension as an unavoidable side effect from chemotherapy, the slot for an anti-hypertensive agent is necessitated, and we try to suggest beta-blockers to fill this position. However, pointing out the paucity in the clinical study, we aim to review the current status of beta blockers under this interest to state how the drug should be included as a drug of choice in every patient undergoing cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachin G Nair
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, 682041, India
| | - Sonu Benny
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, 682041, India
| | - Wesley M Jose
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS PO, Kochi, Kerala, 682041, India.
| | - Aneesh T P
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, 682041, India.
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