drug rehabilitation

The results of two recent studies add to evidence that mention of morphine and opium-based painkillers (Painkiller) commonly used as an anesthetic, to accelerate the growth and spread of cancer cells, especially in cancer patients.

According to Patrick A. Singleton, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, morphine can increase proliferation (proliferation) tumor cells, inhibit the immune system, and trigger the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) that feed tumors and suppress immune function.

"If these results prove the clinic, there may be a big change in the use of anesthesia for surgical procedures in cancer patients. It may also need to find new drugs," said Singleton.

In cancer patients who run the operation known to decrease immune system function so that the tumor cells more easily invade tissues and spread to other body parts.

To prevent that the researchers did note jicoba of mice mice who were not given morphine receptors. It turned out that mice did not experience tumor growth when injected with lung cancer cells. The researchers also found that methylnaltrexone could reduce cancer cell profilerasi to 90 percent.