In Vitro Growth Effects of Morphine and Naloxone on Various Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer Cell Lines

Understanding the potential effects of mu-agonism and antagonism on cancer cells is important for the perioperative physician. Previous studies suggest some tumor cells may have altered growth with mu-agonism or antagonism. This study investigates the effects of morphine (mu-agonist) and naloxone (mu-antagonist) in head and neck tumor cell lines (laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), lateral tongue SCC and base of tongue SCC). Morphine showed no significant effect on tumor cell growth. Naloxone showed significant inhibition of growth in laryngeal SCC, but not in lateral or base of tongue SCC.