New study uncovers how beta blockers could halt the progression of triple negative breast cancer

Cells in pink invading, which are in turn lost when HOXC12 is knocked out.

20 August 2025

Monash University researchers have identified a molecular biomarker in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) tumours which could inform when beta blockers can play a role in “switching off” tumour progression.

When stress hormones are released by the body's nervous system they can activate a receptor called the ‘beta-2 adrenoceptor’ which can speed up the spread of cancer. Beta blockers are a class of medication used to block the effects of stress hormones and have already been identified by Monash researchers as a potential therapeutic option for halting cancer progression in TNBC patients.

In this study the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS) team have now discovere ho beta blockers could play a role in stopping TNBC progression in some patients, paving the way for better informed beta blocker prescribing at the time of diagnosis.

Senior author, Associate Professor Michelle Halls from MIPS, said the discovery is exciting because there has been mounting evidence indicating a strong link between beta blockers preventing metastasis in some TNBC patients; however, until now, they didn’t know why this is the case.

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