The Potential Efficacy of β-Blockers on Melanoma Survival: A Narrative Review

Melanoma is a common tumor accounting for around 3-5% of all cutaneous malignancies with worldwide increasing incidence. It is still associated with significant mortality despite the breakthrough of new innovative therapies within the last decade. A wide variety of treatment modalities is currently used for the management of melanoma, ranging from surgical excision of primary melanoma to adjuvant and palliative treatment with target molecules, including BRAF and MEK inhibitors, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. beta-blockers have recently demonstrated in preclinical and clinical studies to reduce recurrence and to correlate with better overall survival in metastatic melanoma as an additional supportive treatment option, owing to their anti-tumor potential. Further investigation regarding their efficacy and safety profile is needed, since there are only few studies in the literature on this topic. Our aim is to evaluate the role and current status of beta-blockers in melanoma management. The literature research includes peer-reviewed articles (clinical trials or scientific reviews). Studies were identified by searching electronic databases (MEDLINE and PubMed) till May 2020 and reference lists of respective articles. Only articles published in English language were included.

Automated summary

Melanoma, a common tumor with increasing global incidence, is managed using various treatment modalities such as surgical excision, targeted molecular therapies, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Studies have shown that beta-blockers may reduce recurrence and improve overall survival in metastatic melanoma as an additional supportive treatment option, but further research is needed to determine their efficacy and safety profile.