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BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Repurposing existing medications as cancer therapy: design and feasibility of a randomized pilot investigating propranolol administration in patients receiving hematopoietic cell transplantation

Authors: Jennifer M. Knight, Stephanie A. Kerswill, Parameswaran Hari, Steve W. Cole, Brent R. Logan, Anita D’Souza, Nirav N. Shah, Mary M. Horowitz, Melinda R. Stolley, Erica K. Sloan, Karen E. Giles, Erin S. Costanzo, Mehdi Hamadani, Saurabh Chhabra, Binod Dhakal, J. Douglas Rizzo

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Repurposing existing medications for antineoplastic purposes can provide a safe, cost-effective, and efficacious means to further augment available cancer care. Clinical and preclinical studies suggest a role for the ß-adrenergic antagonist (ß-blocker) propranolol in reducing rates of tumor progression in both solid and hematologic malignancies. In patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), the peri-transplant period is a time of increased activity of the ß-adrenergically-mediated stress response.

Methods

We conducted a proof-of-concept randomized controlled pilot study assessing the feasibility of propranolol administration to patients between ages 18–75 who received an autologous HCT for multiple myeloma. Feasibility was assessed by enrollment rate, tolerability, adherence, and retention.

Results

One hundred fifty-four patients underwent screening; 31 (20%) enrolled in other oncology trials that precluded dual trial enrollment and 9 (6%) declined to enroll in the current trial. Eighty-nine (58%) did not meet eligibility requirements and 25 (16%) were eligible; of the remaining eligible patients, all were successfully enrolled and randomized. The most common reasons for ineligibility were current ß-blocker use, age, logistics, and medical contraindications. 92% of treatment arm patients tolerated and remained on propranolol for the study duration; 1 patient discontinued due to hypotension. Adherence rate in assessable patients (n = 10) was 94%. Study retention was 100%.

Conclusions

Findings show that it is feasible to recruit and treat multiple myeloma patients with propranolol during HCT, with the greatest obstacle being other competing oncology trials. These data support further studies examining propranolol and other potentially repurposed drugs in oncology populations.

Trial registration

This randomized controlled trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov with the identifier NCT02420223 on April 17, 2015.
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Metadata
Title
Repurposing existing medications as cancer therapy: design and feasibility of a randomized pilot investigating propranolol administration in patients receiving hematopoietic cell transplantation
Authors
Jennifer M. Knight
Stephanie A. Kerswill
Parameswaran Hari
Steve W. Cole
Brent R. Logan
Anita D’Souza
Nirav N. Shah
Mary M. Horowitz
Melinda R. Stolley
Erica K. Sloan
Karen E. Giles
Erin S. Costanzo
Mehdi Hamadani
Saurabh Chhabra
Binod Dhakal
J. Douglas Rizzo
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-018-4509-0

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