The role of adrenergic signaling in breast cancer biology

Cancer Biomark. 2013;13(3):161-9. doi: 10.3233/CBM-130347.

Abstract

Adrenergic signaling results from the effects of the catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine, on alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors. In breast cancer, preclinical models suggest that this pathway may influence breast cancer progression through 1) increasing tumor cell survival after exposure to chemotherapeutic agents; 2) increasing breast cancer cell proliferation; and 3) altering the tumor microenvironment in angiogenesis and the inflammatory response. Epidemiologic data have suggested a correlation between drugs that indirectly affect the adrenergic pathway and breast cancer incidence. In addition, there is retrospective evidence suggesting that the use of β-adrenergic blockers in early stage breast cancer patients correlates with an increased time to recurrence. Here we review evidence from both pre-clinical models and epidemiological studies that have examined the question of whether adrenergic signaling may modify breast cancer biology.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / psychology
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stress, Psychological / metabolism
  • Stress, Psychological / pathology

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta