Morphine promotes development of cancer

Although morphine is commonly prescribed for neutralizing strong pain, studies have shown that it also promotes cancer.

Latest research showed that morphine, which is normally prescribed to relieve strong pain, promotes the spread of cancer. Specifically, American scientists have discovered that opiates assist formation of new blood vessels that supply food and oxygen for the cancerous cells.

However, morphine not only strengthens the walls of blood vessels, but it also promotes the emergence and spread of cancer metastasis, explained Dr. Patrick Singleton of the University of Chicago. However, scientists have discovered that there are drugs that can reduce this effect.

This is a group of medicines called metilnaltreksonom (MNTX) whose impact was only recently confirmed in the lab. Tests were performed on laboratory mice and results showed that the proliferation of lung cancer decreases by 90 percent in cases where opiates were combined with MNTX.