Zhang H, Zhou D, Gu J, Qu M, Guo K, Chen W, Miao C. Targeting the mu-Opioid Receptor for Cancer Treatment.
Curr Oncol Rep 2021;
23:111. [PMID:
34342720 DOI:
10.1007/s11912-021-01107-w]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Opioids are still the most effective and widely used treatments for acute and chronic pain in cancer patients. This review focuses on the impact of opioids and mu-opioid receptors (MOR) on tumor progression and providing new ideas for targeting the MOR in cancer treatment.
RECENT FINDINGS
Studies estimated that opioids facilitate tumor progression and are related to the worse prognosis in cancer patients. As the primary receptor of opioids, MOR is involved in the regulation of malignant transformation of tumors and participating in proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis. MOR may be a new molecular marker of malignant tumors and thus become a new target for cancer therapy, which may be beneficial to the outcomes of cancer patients.
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