LAUSR

Stress plays a role in tumourigenesis through catecholamines acting at β‐adrenoceptors including β1‐, β2‐ and β3‐adrenoceptors, and the use of β‐adrenoceptor antagonists seems to counteract tumour growth and progression. Preclinical evidence and meta‐analysis data demonstrate that melanoma shows a positive response to β‐adrenoceptor blockers and in particular to propranolol acting mainly at β1‐ and β2‐adrenoceptors. Although evidence suggesting that β3‐adrenoceptors may play a role as a therapeutic target in infantile haemangiomas has been recently reviewed, a comprehensive analysis of the data available from preclinical studies supporting a possible role of β3‐adrenoceptors in melanoma was not available. Here, we review data from the literature demonstrating that propranolol may be effective at counteracting melanoma growth, and we provide preclinical evidence that β3‐adrenoceptors may also play a role in the pathophysiology of melanoma, thus opening the door for further clinical assays trying to explore β3‐adrenoceptor blockers as novel alternatives for its treatment.