Effects of Morphine on Tumour Growth
Mads Rasmussen (1)
Wei Zhu (2)
Jan Tønnesen, (2)
Patrick Cadet, (2)
Else Tønnesen, (1)
George B. Stefano, (2)
1. Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Aarhus University
Hospital, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
2. Neuroscience Research Institute, State University of New
York/College at Old Westbury, Old Westbury, New York, 11568
USA
Key
words: Endogenous
opioids; morphine; Neoplasia; Cancer; Apoptosis; Nitric oxide
Abstract
Endogenous
opiate alkaloids, such as morphine, and their peptide counterparts
have been implicated in a wide variety of pharmacological
and physiological functions. In addition to their use in the
treatment of pain , opioids, appears to be important in the
growth regulation of normal and neoplastic tissue. This review
will focus on the influence of endogenous and exogenous opioids
on tumour growth, with emphasis on immunoregulatory and antiproliferative
mechanisms.
Introduction
Endogenous opiate alkaloids, such as morphine, and their peptide
counterparts have been implicated in a wide variety of pharmacological
and physiological functions [1]. Opiate alkaloids appear to
represent one of the immune and vascular inhibitory/anti-inflammatory
systems in an organism whereas opioid peptides appear to have
proinflammatory capabilities [1-3]. Thus, from an immune perspective,
these signalling molecules are potential candidates as tumour
growth modifiers. This article will focus on morphine's influence
on the regulatory mechanisms involved in tumour growth.
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