Myometrial Responses to Beta-Adrenoceptor Antagonists in Gynecological Malignancies

  • Gynecol Obstet Invest. 2021;86(1-2):162-169. doi: 10.1159/000513718.
Beata Modzelewska  1 ,  Marcin Jóźwik  2 ,  Tomasz Kleszczewski  1 ,  Stanisław Sulkowski  3 ,  Maciej Jóźwik  4
Affiliations
  • 1. Department of Biophysics, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
  • 2. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland.
  • 3. Department of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
  • 4. Department of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland, [email protected].
PMID: 33640886 DOI: 10.1159/000513718
Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the influence of beta-adrenoceptor (ADRB) antagonists on contractile activity of the nonpregnant human uterus in patients affected by gynecological malignancies.

Design: This was a controlled and prospective ex vivo study.

Setting: The work was conducted as a collaboration between 4 academic departments.

Materials and methods: Myometrial specimens were obtained from women undergoing hysterectomy for benign gynecological disorders (reference group; N = 15), and ovarian (N = 15), endometrial (N = 15), synchronous ovarian-endometrial (N = 3), and cervical Cancer (N = 10). Contractions of myometrial strips in an organ bath before and after applications of ADRB antagonists (propranolol, bupranolol, SR 59230A, and butoxamine) were studied under isometric conditions.

Results: Propranolol and bupranolol attenuated contractions in the endometrial and cervical Cancer groups similar to that in the reference group (all p < 0.05), whereas opposite effects were observed in the ovarian and synchronous ovarian-endometrial Cancer groups. SR 59230A and butoxamine significantly increased contractions in the ovarian Cancer group (both p < 0.001).

Limitations: These results require now to be placed into a firm clinical context.

Conclusions: Our study indicates that ovarian Cancer considerably alters contractile activity of the nonpregnant human uterus in response to ADRB antagonists. This suggests a pathogenetic role of beta-adrenergic pathways in this malignancy. Furthermore, propranolol and bupranolol substantially influence spontaneous uterine contractility.

Keywords
Beta-adrenoceptor; Cervical cancer; Endometrial cancer; Ovarian cancer; Uterine contractions.
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