Pain management in cancer patients: Could opioids or NSAIDs influence outcomes?
Abstract
Pain management in cancer patients is crucial, yet its implications on tumour progression and long-term outcomes remain an area of ongoing debate. Opioids, while effective for severe pain, may have immunomodulatory and tumour-promoting effects, whereas NSAIDs, particularly selective COX-2 inhibitors, could exert anti-tumour properties through modulation of inflammation and the tumour microenvironment. However, conflicting clinical evidence and methodological limitations hinder definitive conclusions. This review examines the current literature on the oncological effects of analgesics, highlighting the need for high-quality randomized controlled trials, biomarker-driven research, and a focus on patient-centred outcomes. Future studies should integrate advanced cancer subtyping and predictive modelling to optimize analgesic strategies while minimizing potential oncological risks. By addressing these gaps, clinicians can refine perioperative and long-term pain management approaches to improve both symptom control and cancer prognosis.
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BibTeX
@article{smith2026pain,
title = {{Pain management in cancer patients: Could opioids or NSAIDs influence outcomes?}},
author = {Laura Smith and Ashly Mary Lal and Patrice Forget},
journal = {Best Practice \& Research Clinical Anaesthesiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.bpa.2025.03.007},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05805741v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Pain management in cancer patients: Could opioids or NSAIDs influence outcomes?
AU - Laura Smith
AU - Ashly Mary Lal
AU - Patrice Forget
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/19
JO - Best Practice & Research Clinical Anaesthesiology
DO - 10.1016/j.bpa.2025.03.007
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05805741v1
AB - Pain management in cancer patients is crucial, yet its implications on tumour progression and long-term outcomes remain an area of ongoing debate. Opioids, while effective for severe pain, may have immunomodulatory and tumour-promoting effects, whereas NSAIDs, particularly selective COX-2 inhibitors, could exert anti-tumour properties through modulation of inflammation and the tumour microenvironment. However, conflicting clinical evidence and methodological limitations hinder definitive conclusions. This review examines the current literature on the oncological effects of analgesics, highlighting the need for high-quality randomized controlled trials, biomarker-driven research, and a focus on patient-centred outcomes. Future studies should integrate advanced cancer subtyping and predictive modelling to optimize analgesic strategies while minimizing potential oncological risks. By addressing these gaps, clinicians can refine perioperative and long-term pain management approaches to improve both symptom control and cancer prognosis.
SN - 1753-3740
SN - 1753-3740
ER -