Opioids in Cancer Development, Progression and Metastasis: Focus on Colorectal Cancer.

Abstract

OPINION STATEMENT:

So far, opioids have been successfully used to reduce cancer pain in patients in order to improve their quality of life. However, the use of opioids leads to numerous side effects such as constipation, drowsiness, nausea, itching, increased sweating and hormonal changes. In this review, we described the action of opioids in several molecular pathways significant for maintenance of the intestinal homeostasis including the impact on the intestinal epithelium integrity, changes in microbiome composition, modulation of the immune system or induction of apoptosis and inhibition of angiogenesis. We summed up the role of individual opioids in the processes involved in the growth and development of cancer and elucidated if targeting opioid receptors may constitute novel therapeutic option in colon cancer.

• Authors: Adrian Szczepaniak, Jakub Fichna, Marta Zielińska
• Journal: Current treatment options in oncology (Curr Treat Options Oncol) Vol. 21 Issue 1 Pg. 6 (01 22 2020) ISSN: 1534-6277 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 31970561 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Analgesics, Opioid
• Biomarkers

Topics

• Analgesics, Opioid (adverse effects)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Biomarkers
• Cell Cycle (drug effects)
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Colorectal Neoplasms (epidemiology, etiology, pathology)
• Disease Progression
• Disease Susceptibility
• Gastrointestinal Microbiome (drug effects)
• Humans
• Immune System (drug effects, immunology, metabolism)
• Intestinal Mucosa (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Neoplasm Metastasis
• Neoplasm Staging
• Neovascularization, Pathologic (etiology, metabolism)