ArticlePloS one2019
The effect of propranolol on the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: A nationwide population-based study.
Article in PloS one, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 27 citations in OpenAlex.
- Impact of beta blockers on cancer neuroimmunology: a systematic review and meta-analysis of survival outcomes and immune modulation.Frontiers in immunology · 2025Pooled it
- Beta-adrenergic receptor blockers and hepatocellular carcinoma survival: a systemic review and meta-analysis.Clinical and experimental medicine · 2023Pooled it
- Psychological Stress Promotes Tumor Growth in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Models Through Myeloid Signaling.Cancer science · 2026Article
- Liver-nervous system axis: pathways, dysregulation, and translational perspectives.Journal of neuroinflammation · 2026Review
- Advancements in Beta-Adrenergic Therapy and Novel Personalised Approach for Portal Hypertension: A Narrative Review.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- The Impact of Beta Blockers on Survival in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Cancers · 2025Review
- β-blockers and metabolic modulation: unraveling the complex interplay with glucose metabolism, inflammation and oxidative stress.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2024Review
- Outcomes of beta blocker use in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.Frontiers in oncology · 2023Article
- Obesity and cancer-extracellular matrix, angiogenesis, and adrenergic signaling as unusual suspects linking the two diseases.Cancer metastasis reviews · 2022Review
- Impact of β-blockers on survival outcomes in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.Hepatic oncology · 2022Article
- Antitumor Effects and Mechanisms of Metabolic Syndrome Medications on Hepatocellular Carcinoma.Journal of hepatocellular carcinoma · 2022Review
- Beta-blockers in patients with liver cirrhosis: Pragmatism or perfection?Frontiers in medicine · 2022Review
- Neurobiology of Cancer: Introduction of New Drugs in the Treatment and Prevention of Cancer.International journal of molecular sciences · 2021Review
- Association Between Nonselective Beta-Blocker Use and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B Without Cirrhosis and Decompensation.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundBeta-blockers can reduce recurrence, metastasis, and mortality in various cancers. In this study, we investigated the effect of propranolol, a non-selective beta-blocker on overall survival (OS) in unresectable/metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and on recurrence-free survival (RFS) in resectable, curable HCC.
methodsData were retrieved from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between January 2000 and December 2013. Propranolol users (for >1 year) and non-propranolol users were matched using a 1:2 propensity score in both cohorts.
resultsThe unresectable/metastatic HCC cohort comprised 1,560 propranolol users and 3,120 non-propranolol users (control group). On multivariate Cox regression analysis of HCC mortality, propranolol significantly reduced the mortality risk by 22% (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.72-0.84, P <0.001). On stratified Cox regression analysis, propranolol also reduced the mortality risk in HCC patients with hepatitis B (HR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.85-0.99, P = 0.045), hepatitis C (HR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.78-0.92, P = 0.001), liver cirrhosis (HR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.72-0.85, P <0.001), and diabetes mellitus (HR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.81-0.94, P = 0.008). The resectable, curable HCC cohort comprised 289 propranolol users and 578 non-propranolol users (control group), but there was no significant difference in RFS (P = 0.762) between propranolol and non-propranolol users.
conclusionThis study revealed that propranolol could improve OS in unresectable/metastatic HCC.
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