Opiate-based painkillers, routinely prescribed to relieve pain from surgery and tumors, may encourage the spread of cancer, a new study finds.

According to the study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research in Boston, morphine promotes the growth of new blood vessels, providing tumors with oxygen and required nutrients.

Morphine not only nourishes tumors but also makes it easier for cancerous cells to invade other tissues and spread.

A drug known as methylnaltrexone (MNTX) counters the side effects of the opiate without interfering with its pain-relieving properties, the study found.

Scientists concluded that MNTX inhibits the tumor-promoting effects of opiates, reducing the spread of cancer by 90%.

PKH/HGH