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New Insights on Tramadol and Immunomodulation

  • Anesthesiology and Critical Care (JP Cata, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Oncology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Opioids are administered to cancer patients although concerns have been raised that they may promote tumour growth or metastasis owing to their ability to suppress anti-cancer immunity. Tramadol has been reported to preserve or promote the immune response and may therefore be preferred to other opioids in cancer patients. We reviewed the literature documenting the immunomodulatory effects of tramadol.

Recent Findings

Recent clinical evidence appears to confirm that tramadol possesses anti-inflammatory properties, and preserves some signalling cascades of the immune system relevant to anti-cancer defence.

Summary

Tramadol is reported to promote or preserve immunity including natural killer cell activity which is important in anti-cancer defences.

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Abbreviations

Arg1:

Arginase 1

Con-A:

Concanavalin A

CRP:

C-reactive protein

Fizz1:

Resistin-like molecule alpha1

IFN-γ:

Interferon gamma

IL-2:

Interleukin 2

LPS:

Lipopolysaccharide

MOR:

μ-Opioid receptor

Mrc1:

Mannose receptor C-type 1

M1:

O-desmethyltramadol

NA:

Noradrenaline

NK:

Natural killer

OR:

Opioid receptor

PBMCs:

Peripheral blood mononuclear cell

PCA:

Patient-controlled analgesia

PHA:

Phytohemagglutinin

PMN:

Polymorphonuclear

TH1:

T helper cell type 1

TNF:

Tumour necrosis factor

TNF-α:

Tumour necrosis factor alpha

Ym1:

Chitinase 3-like 3

5-HT:

Serotonin

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Australia

    Iqira Saeed, Adam La Caze, Paul N. Shaw & Marie-Odile Parat

  2. Department of Anaesthesiology, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Markus W. Hollmann

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  1. Iqira Saeed
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  2. Adam La Caze
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Correspondence to Marie-Odile Parat.

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Conflict of Interest

Iqira Saeed declares that she has no conflict of interest. Adam La Caze declares that he has no conflict of interest. Markus W. Hollmann has received research funding from CSL Behring, ZonMw, the Society of Cardiovasular Anesthesiologists (SCA) and the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology (EACTA); and has received compensation from Eurocept Pharmaceuticals BV and IDD for service as a consultant. Paul N. Shaw declares that he has no conflict of interest. Marie-Odile Parat declares that she has no conflict of interest.

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Saeed, I., La Caze, A., Hollmann, M.W. et al. New Insights on Tramadol and Immunomodulation. Curr Oncol Rep 23, 123 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-021-01121-y

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