Morphine and Metastasis (PDF)

The possibility that morphine and other opioids may modulate tumour growth and metastasis has been researched for many years. The recent past has seen multiple clinical studies attempting to document whether limiting the perioperative use of morphine is beneficial for cancer surgery patients. Furthermore, a lot of exciting new data has been generated in vitro, but also in preclinical and clinical studies, that indirectly shed light on the effect of opioids on cancer.

This book combines chapters written by qualified experts around the world whose research encompasses the effect of morphine or other opioids on tumour growth and metastasis. This includes clinicians, researchers working on animal models and studying the effect of morphine on tumours, and most importantly the mechanism for this effect, and lastly cell biologists. Current investigations and cross talk between basic science and clinical trials will refine our understanding of the multiple levels of actions of morphine and other opioids on tumour growth and metastasis, and result in improved guidelines for patient care.

This book will be of interest to clinicians, especially those dealing with cancer patients and their pain management, as well as students, teachers and scientists in the fields of anaesthesiology, oncology, tumour biology, immunology, opioid pharmacology.