Both Bupivacaine and Levobupivacaine inhibit colon cancer cell growth but not melanoma cells in vitro.
Tianci LiLin ChenHailin ZhaoLingzhi WuJoe MastersChongfang HanKazuyoshi HirotaDaqing MaPublished in: Journal of anesthesia (2018)
These in vitro data suggested that both bupivacaine and levobupivacaine suppress colorectal adenocarcinoma cell proliferation and migration, which are concurrent with increased endoplasmic reticulum stress. Conversely, melanoma cells are more resilient to these two commonly used local anaesthetics. Further in vivo studies or clinical trials are needed.