Could a common blood pressure drug help fight prostate cancer?
NCT ID NCT03152786
First seen Aug 03, 2026 · Last updated Aug 04, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This pilot trial asks whether propranolol, a drug that blocks stress signals, can influence how prostate cancer cells survive or die. Men with prostate cancer scheduled for surgery will take propranolol before their operation. Researchers will then examine the removed prostate tissue to see if the drug changed key proteins linked to cell survival. The goal is to understand if stress-related pathways might be a target for improving prostate cancer treatment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- propranolol hydrochloride (a beta-blocker that may affect stress-related signals in prostate cancer cells)
- What this could lead to
- If propranolol changes key cell signals, it could point toward a way to make prostate cancer cells more likely to die, potentially improving surgery outcomes.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small early-stage pilot study, so results may not be conclusive. Propranolol can lower blood pressure and heart rate, which may not be safe for all men.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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