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Review
. 2020 Jan 22;21(1):6.
doi: 10.1007/s11864-019-0699-1.

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

Adrian Szczepaniak  1 , Jakub Fichna  1 , Marta Zielińska  2
Affiliations
Review

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

Adrian Szczepaniak et al. Curr Treat Options Oncol. .

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Cancer; Colorectal cancer; Endogenous opioid system; Opioid receptors; Opioids; Opium.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mechanism of action of morphine on the tumor cell, modulating cell cycle, apoptosis and angiogenesis
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Disturbing the integrity of the epithelium by modifying tight junction has serious consequences, causing translocation of bacteria, leading to the activation of macrophages, genotoxic changes that are the causes of colon cancer
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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