Scientific Reports (Dec 2024)

The anti-tumor effects of main component (benzethonium chloride) of butorphanol tartrate injection in non-small cell lung cancer

  • Honglei Tao,
  • Lei Li,
  • Huiling Li,
  • Tingting Ma,
  • Xinping Zhu,
  • Jili Cao,
  • Yongqiang Zhu,
  • Shengmei Zhu,
  • Mingqian Li

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81912-y
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 1 – 16

Abstract

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Abstract Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the global population. The effective management of cancer-associated pain and anesthesia are critical aspects of comprehensive cancer treatment. However, the role and mechanism of anesthesia and analgesia-related drugs in tumors remain controversial. In this study, the efficacy of 16 commonly used analgesics and anesthetics against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was evaluated. Among the 16 examined injections, butorphanol tartrate injection significantly inhibited the proliferation of NSCLC cells and increased the sensitivity of the EGFR-TKI-resistant H1975 cell line to gefitinib. Benzethonium chloride (BC) is the main active antitumor ingredient of butorphanol tartrate injection. BC may regulate the cell cycle, apoptosis and EMT signaling pathways by modulating the P53 signaling pathway. Our study reveals the therapeutic value of butorphanol tartrate injection and BC in the treatment of NSCLC and provides a theoretical basis for comprehensive therapies for NSCLC.

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