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Repurposing existing medications as cancer therapy: design and feasibility of a randomized pilot investigating propranolol administration in patients receiving hematopoietic cell transplantation.
- Source :
- BMC Cancer; 5/24/2018, Vol. 18 Issue 1, p1-12, 12p, 2 Diagrams, 2 Charts
- Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>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.<bold>Methods: </bold>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.<bold>Results: </bold>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%.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>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.<bold>Trial Registration: </bold>This randomized controlled trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov with the identifier NCT02420223 on April 17, 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- ANTINEOPLASTIC agents
CANCER
CANCER invasiveness
HEMATOPOIETIC growth factors
PROPRANOLOL
MULTIPLE myeloma treatment
ADRENERGIC beta blockers
AUTOGRAFTS
COMBINED modality therapy
COMPARATIVE studies
EXPERIMENTAL design
HEMATOPOIETIC stem cell transplantation
RESEARCH methodology
MEDICAL cooperation
MEDICAL prescriptions
MULTIPLE myeloma
PATIENT compliance
RESEARCH
RESEARCH funding
PILOT projects
EVALUATION research
RANDOMIZED controlled trials
TREATMENT effectiveness
DISEASE progression
THERAPEUTICS
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14712407
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- BMC Cancer
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 129774069
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-018-4509-0