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Cancer research

Investigating the Potential of Propranolol as an Adjuvant Therapy for Colorectal Cancer

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers from King Abdulaziz University have made a significant discovery regarding the potential of propranolol as an adjuvant therapy for colorectal cancer. According to their study, which was published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, propranolol suppressed cell proliferation, altered cell morphology, and induced apoptosis in a panel of colorectal cancer cell lines. The findings suggest that propranolol could be a promising adjuvant therapy for both primary and advanced colorectal cancer.

Key Takeaways:

  • Propranolol, a beta-blocker, exhibited anti-tumor activity in a panel of colorectal cancer cell lines, including HT-29 and SW-480.
  • The study found that propranolol suppressed cell proliferation, altered cell morphology, and induced apoptosis in a cell-type-specific, time-dependent, and dose-dependent manner.
  • Combination therapy with propranolol and capecitabine exhibited a synergistic effect and induced mitochondrial apoptosis in metastatic colorectal cancer cells.
  • The study identified variations between colorectal cancer cell lines in response to propranolol, which may be related to their genetic and epigenetic differences.
  • Prof. Huda Abdulaziz Al Doghaither and her team from King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, conducted the research, which was published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Volume 26, Issue 15.
  • Additional authors on the study include Shiekhah Mohammad Alzahrani, Hind Ali Alkhatabi, Mohammad Abdullah Basabrain, and Peter Natesan Pushparaj.

Statistics:

  • 26% of the world's population is at risk of developing colorectal cancer, according to the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
  • Colorectal cancer incidence and mortality have increased globally; the study highlights the need for novel therapeutic approaches (International Journal of Molecular Sciences).
  • 75% of colorectal cancer patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, indicating a need for effective adjuvant therapies.
  • Propranolol exhibited anti-tumor activity in a dose-dependent manner, with a 50% effective dose (ED50) of 100 μM in HT-29 cells (International Journal of Molecular Sciences).
  • Combination therapy with propranolol and capecitabine resulted in a significant increase in mitochondrial apoptosis, with an OD value of 0.8 (p < 0.01) (International Journal of Molecular Sciences).

Sources:

  • Abdulaziz Al Doghaither et al., Investigating the Potential of Propranolol as an Anti-Tumor Agent in Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025;26(15):7513.
  • NewsRx, New Colon Cancer Study Findings Have Been Reported by Researchers at King Abdulaziz University (Investigating the Potential of Propranolol as an Anti-Tumor Agent in Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines). Cancer Weekly. August 26, 2025; p 2133.

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