The μ-opioid receptor in cancer progression: Is there a direct effect?

摘要

THERE has been increasing interest in the role of anesthetic drugs and opioids in cancer recurrence and metastasis. Epidemiologic studies in this area have suggested that patients who receive general anesthesia with opioids rather than local or regional anesthetics have a greater rate of cancer recurrence. Several retrospective studies have shown a reduced incidence of cancer recurrence after regional anesthesia (epidural, intrathecal, paravertebral) and reduced doses of opioids after surgery for breast, prostate, and colon cancer or melanoma, although other groups have reported less robust association.