OBJECTIVE: During cancer treatment, painkillers are often used to alleviate patient pain. Metamizole is a pyrazolone derivative and a non-opioid pain reliever. Metamizole can be used alone in mild to moderate pain and can also be used with opioid group painkillers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cells were treated with different concentrations of Metamizole. The cytotoxic effects of Metamizole on U-87 cells were determined via WST-8. Changes in the pro-angiogenic factor levels in media were evaluated by ELISA kits. Possible interactions between metamizole with VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), MMP-9 (Matrix Metalloproteinase-9), and Substance P receptors have been studied by molecular docking method.

RESULTS: In this study, it has been shown that metamizole sodium inhibits the growth of human U-87 MG glioblastoma cells at various concentrations, but also causes proliferative effect at some doses in this cell line. However, Metamizole has no statistically significant effect on the proangiogenic factor levels. In addition to these in vitro studies, our results show that metamizole sodium interacts with VEGFR2 (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2) and Neurokinin 1 receptors at low rates but does not have any interaction region with the MMP-9 receptor.

CONCLUSIONS: In this context, we would like to emphasize once more that painkillers should be used with extreme caution in terms of the angiogenesis process that facilitates the progression, recurrence, and metastasis of cancer.