Impact of β3-adrenergic receptor agonist on tumor progression and metastasis in renal cell carcinoma models

TL;DR

A β3-adrenergic receptor agonist initially promotes tumor growth but later reduces it, while increasing lung metastasis in a mouse model of kidney cancer.

Contribution

This study reveals phase-dependent effects of β3-AR agonists on tumor progression and metastasis in renal cell carcinoma.

Findings

Mirabegron initially increased tumor growth but reduced it by over 56% in later phases.

Mirabegron significantly increased lung metastatic burden by over 41%.

Mirabegron induced perirenal adipose tissue browning and tumor immune microenvironment remodeling.

Abstract

β3-adrenergic receptor (β3-AR) agonists, widely used in clinical urology, have recently been implicated in modulating cancer progression. While prior studies have reported both pro- and anti-tumor effects via fat browning and immune modulation, the mechanisms and organ-specific outcomes remain unclear. We aimed to confirm the effects of β3-AR agonists on primary tumors and lung metastasis using metastatic orthotopic murine renal cell carcinoma (RCC) models.

Metastatic orthoptic murine RCC models were developed, and mirabegron, a β3-AR agonist, was orally administered at different dosages and exposure times. The mice were later sacrificed and their kidney and lung tissues harvested. The primary tumor weight and lung nodule number were noted. Perirenal adipose tissue (PAT) browning and tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) remodeling were evaluated and compared between the mirabegron and vehicle treatment groups.

Mirabegron-treated mice showed a significant increase in tumor growth in the early phase; however, tumor growth rates reduced (by > 56%) in the mid and late phases. Mirabegron significantly increased the lung metastatic burden (by > 41%) in all phases. Mirabegron modulated TIME both in primary tumors and lung nodules and increased PAT browning.

The β3-AR agonist increases PAT browning, initially promoting primary tumor progression and possibly contributing to tumor initiation, but eventually inducing immune tolerance, leading to anticancer effects on primary tumors. Effects on lung metastases differed from those on primary tumors.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-025-03834-7.

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