Open Access

Opioids in cancer: The κ‑opioid receptor (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Qier Zhou
    • Zhiwei Zhang
    • Songkai Long
    • Wanjun Li
    • Baiyun Wang
    • Na Liang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 8, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2021.12560
  • Article Number: 44
  • Copyright: © Zhou et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

The κ‑opioid receptor (KOR) is one of the primary receptors of opioids and serves a vital role in the regulation of pain, anesthesia, addiction and other pathological and physiological processes. KOR is associated with several types of cancer and may influence cancer progression. It has been proposed that KOR may represent a new tumor molecular marker and provide a novel basis for molecular targeted therapies for cancer. However, the association between KOR and cancer remains to be explored comprehensively. The present review introduces KOR and its association with different types of cancer. Improved understanding of KOR may facilitate development of novel antitumor therapies.
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February-2022
Volume 25 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Zhou Q, Zhang Z, Long S, Li W, Wang B and Liang N: Opioids in cancer: The κ‑opioid receptor (Review). Mol Med Rep 25: 44, 2022.
APA
Zhou, Q., Zhang, Z., Long, S., Li, W., Wang, B., & Liang, N. (2022). Opioids in cancer: The κ‑opioid receptor (Review). Molecular Medicine Reports, 25, 44. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2021.12560
MLA
Zhou, Q., Zhang, Z., Long, S., Li, W., Wang, B., Liang, N."Opioids in cancer: The κ‑opioid receptor (Review)". Molecular Medicine Reports 25.2 (2022): 44.
Chicago
Zhou, Q., Zhang, Z., Long, S., Li, W., Wang, B., Liang, N."Opioids in cancer: The κ‑opioid receptor (Review)". Molecular Medicine Reports 25, no. 2 (2022): 44. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2021.12560