Long-term Survival for Patients Undergoing Volatile versus IV Anesthesia for Cancer Surgery

Ropivacaine Administration Suppressed A549 Lung Adenocarcinoma Cell Proliferation and Migration via ACE2 Upregulation and Inhibition of the Wnt1 Pathway

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have suggested that perioperative anesthesia could have direct impacts on cancer cell biology. The present study investigated the effects of ropivacaine administration on lung adenocarcinoma cells.

METHODS

Ropivacaine was administered to A549 cells at concentrations of 0.1, 1, and 6 mM for 2 h. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection was performed 6 h prior to ropivacaine administration. Cell proliferation and migration were assessed with cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) and a wound healing assay at 0 and 24 h after anesthesia exposure. PCR arrays were performed, followed by PCR validation.

RESULTS

Ropivacaine administration inhibited A549 cell proliferation and migration in a concentration-dependent manner, with ACE2 upregulation and HIF1α (hypoxia-inducible factor 1α) downregulation. The anticancer effect of ropivacaine was canceled out via ACE2 siRNA transfection. PCR arrays showed specific gene change patterns in the ropivacaine and respective ACE2-knockdown groups. EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor), BAX (Bcl-2-associated X protein) and BCL2 (B-cell/CLL lymphoma 2) were suppressed with ropivacaine administration; these effects were reversed via ACE2 siRNA induction.

CONCLUSION

Ropivacaine administration inhibited A549 cell biology in conjunction with ACE2 upregulation via the inhibition of the Wnt1 (wingless/Integrated 1) pathway.

The TWIK-related acid sensitive potassium 3 (TASK-3) channel contributes to the different effects of anesthetics on the growth and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells

Different anesthetics exert different effects on the long-term outcomes of various cancers. The TWIK-related acid sensitive potassium 3 (TASK-3) channel is an important target of anesthetics and is upregulated in various cancers. However, the role and underlying mechanism of TASK-3 channel in the effects of anesthetics on ovarian cancer remain unknown. Here, we tested whether the TASK-3 channel contributes to the effects of anesthetics on ovarian cancers. We found that the TASK-3 channel was overexpressed in human ovarian cancer and ovarian cancer cell lines. Clinically relevant concentrations of lidocaine, as a TASK-3 channel inhibitor, exert inhibitory effects on tumor growth and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, whereas the TASK-3 channel potent activator sevoflurane had protumor effects and propofol had no significant effects on tumor growth and metastasis of ovarian cancer. Knockdown of the TASK-3 channel by TASK-3 shRNA attenuated the effects of lidocaine and sevoflurane. Moreover, mitochondrial TASK-3 channel contributes to the effects of lidocaine and sevoflurane on the mitochondrial functions of ovarian cancer. Taken together, the TASK-3 channel, especially the mitochondrial TASK-3 (MitoTASK-3) channel, is a molecular substrate for the effects of lidocaine and sevoflurane on the tumor growth and metastasis of ovarian cancer.

Recent advances in mitochondria-targeting theranostic agents

For its vital role in maintaining cellular activity and survival, mitochondrion is highly involved in various diseases, and several strategies to target mitochondria have been developed for specific imaging and treatment. Among these approaches, theranostic may realize both diagnosis and therapy with one integrated material, benefiting the simplification of treatment process and candidate drug evaluation. A variety of mitochondria-targeting theranostic agents have been designed based on the differential structure and composition of mitochondria, which enable more precise localization within cellular mitochondria at disease sites, facilitating the unveiling of pathological information while concurrently performing therapeutic interventions. Here, progress of mitochondria-targeting theranostic materials reported in recent years along with background information on mitochondria-targeting and therapy have been briefly summarized, determining to deliver updated status and design ideas in this field to readers.

The impact of inhalation versus total intravenous anesthesia on the immune status in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery: a double-blind randomized clinical trial (TeMP)

Background

Breast cancer (BC) mortality primarily stems from metastases rather than the primary tumor itself. Perioperative stress, encompassing both surgical and anesthetic factors, profoundly impacts the immune system, leading to alterations in neuroendocrine pathways and immune functions, potentially facilitating tumor progression and metastasis. Understanding the immunomodulatory effects of different anesthesia techniques is crucial for optimizing perioperative care in patients with BC. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) serves as one of the key indicators of perioperative immune response.

Objective

To compare the effects of inhalation anesthesia (IA) and total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) on perioperative immune response in BC surgery patients.

Methods

In this randomized, double-blind clinical trial, BC surgery patients were randomized to receive either TIVA with propofol or IA with sevoflurane. The primary endpoint was NLR assessment. Secondary immune parameters measured included natural killer cells, various T cell subsets, B cells, the immuno-regulatory index [T-helpers (CD3+CD4+)/cytotoxic T-cells (CD3+CD8+)], matrix metallopeptidases (MMP-9), complement components, and immunoglobulins, preoperatively and at 1 and 24 hours postoperatively.

Results

The study included 98 patients (IA: 48, TIVA: 50). The baseline characteristics exhibited remarkable similarity across the groups. No significant difference in absolute NLR values was found between IA and TIVA groups at any time point (1 hour: p = 0.519, 24 hours: p = 0.333). Decreased IgA and IgM levels post-surgery suggested potential negative impacts of IA on humoral immunity compared to TIVA. CRP levels increased more by 24 hours (p = 0.044) in IA compared to TIVA. No significant differences were observed in natural killer cells, T cell subsets, B cells, MMP-9 levels or complement components between groups. Significant differences in the immuno-regulatory index between the TIVA and IA groups at one hour postoperatively (p = 0.033) were not maintained at 24 hours.

Conclusion

While there were no notable differences in NLR among the types of anesthesia, the observed disparities in immunoglobulin content and C-reactive protein levels between groups suggest that we cannot dismiss the potential immunosuppressive effects of inhalational anesthesia in breast cancer surgeries. Further investigation needed to clarify the impact of various anesthesia methods on immune function and their implications for long-term cancer outcomes.

Recurrence-free survival after curative resection of non-small cell lung cancer between inhalational gas anesthesia and propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia: a multicenter, randomized, clinical trial (GAS TIVA trial): protocol description

BACKGROUND

Surgery is the primary treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but microscopic residual disease may be unavoidable. Preclinical studies have shown that volatile anesthetics might suppress host immunity and promote a pro-malignant environment that supports cancer cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis, whereas propofol may preserve cell-mediated immunity and inhibit tumor angiogenesis. However, clinical evidence that propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) can reduce tumor recurrence after curative resection remains inconsistent due to the retrospective observational nature of previous studies. Therefore, we will test the hypothesis that the recurrence-free survival (RFS) after curative resection of NSCLC is higher in patients who received TIVA than volatile anesthetics (GAS) in this multicenter randomized trial.

METHODS

This double-blind, randomized trial will enroll patients at 22 international sites, subject to study registration, institutional review board approval, and patient written informed consent. Eligible patients are adult patients undergoing lung resection surgery with curative intent for NSCLC. Exclusion criteria will be contraindications to study drugs, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status IV or higher, or preexisting distant metastasis or malignant tumor in other organs. At each study site, enrolled subjects will be randomly allocated into the TIVA and GAS groups with a 1:1 ratio. This pragmatic trial does not standardize any aspect of patient care. However, potential confounders will be balanced between the study arms. The primary outcome will be RFS. Secondary outcomes will be overall survival and complications within postoperative 7 days. Enrollment of 5384 patients will provide 80% power to detect a 3% treatment effect (hazard ratio of 0.83) at alpha 0.05 for RFS at 3 years.

DISCUSSION

Confirmation of the study hypothesis would demonstrate that a relatively minor and low-cost alteration in anesthetic management has the potential to reduce cancer recurrence risk in NSCLC, an ultimately fatal complication. Rejection of the hypothesis would end the ongoing debate about the relationship between cancer recurrence and anesthetic management.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study protocol was prospectively registered at the Clinical trials ( https://clinicaltrials.gov , NCT06330038, principal investigator: Hyun Joo Ahn; date of first public release: March 25, 2024) before the recruitment of the first participant.

Perioperative Immunosuppressive Factors during Cancer Surgery: An Updated Review

Surgical excision of the primary tumor represents the most frequent and curative procedure for solid malignancies. Compelling evidence suggests that, despite its beneficial effects, surgery may impair immunosurveillance by triggering an immunosuppressive inflammatory stress response and favor recurrence by stimulating minimal residual disease. In addition, many factors interfere with the immune effectors before and after cancer procedures, such as malnutrition, anemia, or subsequent transfusion. Thus, the perioperative period plays a key role in determining oncological outcomes and represents a short phase to circumvent anesthetic and surgical deleterious factors by supporting the immune system through the use of synergistic pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. In line with this, accumulating studies indicate that anesthetic agents could drive both protumor or antitumor signaling pathways during or after cancer surgery. While preclinical investigations focusing on anesthetics' impact on the behavior of cancer cells are quite convincing, limited clinical trials studying the consequences on survival and recurrences remain inconclusive. Herein, we highlight the main factors occurring during the perioperative period of cancer surgery and their potential impact on immunomodulation and cancer progression. We also discuss patient management prior to and during surgery, taking into consideration the latest advances in the literature.

Local anaesthetics and chemotherapeutic agents: a systematic review of preclinical evidence of interactions and cancer biology

Background

Local anaesthetics are widely used for their analgesic and anaesthetic properties in the perioperative setting, including surgical procedures to excise malignant tumours. Simultaneously, chemotherapeutic agents remain a cornerstone of cancer treatment, targeting rapidly dividing cancer cells to inhibit tumour growth. The potential interactions between these two drug classes have drawn increasing attention and there are oncological surgical contexts where their combined use could be considered. This review examines existing evidence regarding the interactions between local anaesthetics and chemotherapeutic agents, including biological mechanisms and clinical implications.

Methods

A systematic search of electronic databases was performed as per Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Selection criteria were designed to capture in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies assessing interactions between local anaesthetics and a wide variety of chemotherapeutic agents. Screening and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers. The data were synthesised using a narrative approach because of the anticipated heterogeneity of included studies.

Results

Initial searches yielded 1225 relevant articles for screening, of which 43 met the inclusion criteria. The interactions between local anaesthetics and chemotherapeutic agents were diverse and multifaceted. In vitro studies frequently demonstrated altered cytotoxicity profiles when these agents were combined, with variations depending on the specific drug combination and cancer cell type. Mechanistically, some interactions were attributed to modifications in efflux pump activity, tumour suppressor gene expression, or alterations in cellular signalling pathways associated with tumour promotion. A large majority of in vitro studies report potentially beneficial effects of local anaesthetics in terms of enhancing the antineoplastic activity of chemotherapeutic agents. In animal models, the combined administration of local anaesthetics and chemotherapeutic agents showed largely beneficial effects on tumour growth, metastasis, and overall survival. Notably, no clinical study examining the possible interactions of local anaesthetics and chemotherapy on cancer outcomes has been reported.

Conclusions

Reported preclinical interactions between local anaesthetics and chemotherapeutic agents are complex and encompass a spectrum of effects which are largely, although not uniformly, additive or synergistic. The clinical implications of these interactions remain unclear because of the lack of prospective trials. Nonetheless, the modulation of chemotherapy effects by local anaesthetics warrants further clinical investigation in the context of cancer surgery where they could be used together.

Clinical trial registration

Open Science Framework (OSF, project link: https://osf.io/r2u4z).

Are there beneficial effects to hybrid anesthesia*?

As the COVID-19 pandemic increased the use of propofol in the intensive care unit for the management of respiratory sequelae and supply had become a major issue. Indeed, most hospitals in Japan were forced to use propofol only for induction of anesthesia with inhalational maintenance. Large amounts of propofol remain in the syringe which exacerbates the problems by increased waste. I propose that use of low dose propofol in combination with a low concentration inhaled anesthetic as an alternative and call this hybrid anesthesia. Several advantages of hybrid anesthesia are evident in the literature. Volatile anesthesia has several disadvantages such as cancer progression, emergence agitation, marked reduction in motor evoked potentials (MEP), laryngospasm with desflurane and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Volatile anesthesia exerts some beneficial actions such as myocardial protection and fast emergence with desflurane. In contrast, total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) provides better survival in patients undergoing radical cancer surgery, reduction in emergence agitation, laryngospasm, PONV and better MEP trace Intraoperative awareness occurs more often during TIVA. When intravenous and volatile anesthesia are combined (hybrid anesthesia), the disadvantages of both methods may be offset by clear advantages. Thus, hybrid anesthesia may, therefore, be a viable anesthetic choice.

The Surgical Stress Response and Anesthesia: A Narrative Review

The human physiological response "to stress" includes all metabolic and hormonal changes produced by a traumatic event at the micro or macro cellular levels. The main goal of the body's first response to trauma is to keep physiological homeostasis. The perioperative non-specific adaptation response can sometimes be detrimental and can produce systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), characterized by hypermetabolism and hyper catabolism. We performed a narrative review consisting of a description of the surgical stress response's categories of changes (neurohormonal and immunological response) followed by reviewing methods found in published studies to modulate the surgical stress response perioperatively. We described various preoperative measures cited in the literature as lowering the burden of surgical trauma. This article revises the anesthetic drugs and techniques that have an impact on the surgical stress response and proven immune-modulatory effects. We also tried to name present knowledge gaps requiring future research. Our review concludes that proper preoperative measures, adequate general anesthetics, multimodal analgesia, early postoperative mobilization, and early enteral nutrition can decrease the stress response to surgery and ease patient recovery. Anesthetics and analgesics used during the perioperative period may modulate the innate and adaptive immune system and inflammatory system, with a consecutive impact on cancer recurrence and long-term outcomes.

Lidocaine effects on neutrophil extracellular trapping and angiogenesis biomarkers in postoperative breast cancer patients with different anesthesia methods: a prospective, randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Anesthesia techniques and drug selection may influence tumor recurrence and metastasis. Neutrophil extracellular trapping (NETosis), an immunological process, has been linked to an increased susceptibility to metastasis in individuals with tumors. Furthermore, recurrence may be associated with vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), a mediator of angiogenesis. This study investigates the impact of lidocaine (combined with sevoflurane or propofol anesthesia ) during breast cancer surgery inhibits the expression of biomarkers associated with metastasis and recurrence (specifically H3Cit, NE, MPO, MMP-9 and VEGF-A).

METHODS

We randomly assigned 120 women undergoing primary or invasive breast tumor resection to receive one of four anesthetics: sevoflurane (S), sevoflurane plus i.v. lidocaine (SL), propofol (P), and propofol plus i.v. lidocaine (PL). Blood samples were collected before induction and 3 h after the operation. Biomarkers associated with NETosis (citrullinated histone H3 [H3Cit], myeloperoxidase [MPO], and neutrophil elastase [NE]) and angiogenesis were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

RESULTS

Patient and breast tumor characteristics, along with perioperative management, did not differ between study groups. In intra-group comparisons, S and P groups demonstrated a statistically significant increase in post-operative MPO (S group: 10.39[6.89-17.22] vs. 14.31[8.55-20.87] ng ml-1, P = 0.032; P group: 9.45[6.73-17.37] vs. 14.34[9.87-19.75] ng ml-1, P = 0.035)and NE(S group: 182.70[85.66-285.85] vs. 226.20[91.85-391.65] ng ml-1, P = 0.045; P group: 154.22[97.31-325.30] vs. 308.66[132.36-483.57] ng ml-1, P = 0.037) concentrations compared to pre-operative measurements, whereas SL and PL groups did not display a similar increase. H3Cit, MMP-9, and VEGF-A concentrations were not significantly influenced by the anesthesia techniques and drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

Regardless of the specific technique employed for general anesthesia, there was no increase in the postoperative serum concentrations of MPO and NE after perioperative lidocaine infusion compared to preoperative serum concentrations. This supports the hypothesis that intravenous lidocaine during cancer surgery aimed at achieving a cure may potentially decrease the likelihood of recurrence. Further interpretation and discussion of clinical implications are warranted, emphasizing the significance of these findings in the context of cancer surgery and recurrence prevention.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR2300068563.

Neutrophils and Anesthetic Drugs: Implications in Onco-Anesthesia

Apart from being a significant line of defense in the host defense system, neutrophils have many immunological functions. Although there are not many publications that accurately present the functions of neutrophils in relation to oncological pathology, their activity and implications have been studied a lot recently. This review aims to extensively describe neutrophils functions'; their clinical implications, especially in tumor pathology; the value of clinical markers related to neutrophils; and the implications of neutrophils in onco-anesthesia. This review also aims to describe current evidence on the influence of anesthetic drugs on neutrophils' functions and their potential influence on perioperative outcomes.

A Transcriptomic Approach to Understand Patient Susceptibility to Pneumonia After Abdominal Surgery

OBJECTIVE

To describe immune pathways and gene networks altered following major abdominal surgery and to identify transcriptomic patterns associated with postoperative pneumonia.

BACKGROUND

Nosocomial infections are a major healthcare challenge, developing in over 20% of patients aged 45 or over undergoing major abdominal surgery, with postoperative pneumonia associated with an almost 5-fold increase in 30-day mortality.

METHODS

From a prospective consecutive cohort (n=150) undergoing major abdominal surgery, whole-blood RNA was collected preoperatively and at 3 time-points postoperatively (2-6, 24, and 48 h). Twelve patients diagnosed with postoperative pneumonia and 27 matched patients remaining infection-free were identified for analysis with RNA-sequencing.

RESULTS

Compared to preoperative sampling, 3639 genes were upregulated and 5043 downregulated at 2 to 6 hours. Pathway analysis demonstrated innate-immune activation with neutrophil degranulation and Toll-like-receptor signaling upregulation alongside adaptive-immune suppression. Cell-type deconvolution of preoperative RNA-sequencing revealed elevated S100A8/9-high neutrophils alongside reduced naïve CD4 T-cells in those later developing pneumonia. Preoperatively, a gene-signature characteristic of neutrophil degranulation was associated with postoperative pneumonia acquisition ( P =0.00092). A previously reported Sepsis Response Signature (SRSq) score, reflecting neutrophil dysfunction and a more dysregulated host response, at 48 hours postoperatively, differed between patients subsequently developing pneumonia and those remaining infection-free ( P =0.045). Analysis of the novel neutrophil gene-signature and SRSq scores in independent major abdominal surgery and polytrauma cohorts indicated good predictive performance in identifying patients suffering later infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Major abdominal surgery acutely upregulates innate-immune pathways while simultaneously suppressing adaptive-immune pathways. This is more prominent in patients developing postoperative pneumonia. Preoperative transcriptomic signatures characteristic of neutrophil degranulation and postoperative SRSq scores may be useful predictors of subsequent pneumonia risk.

Effects of anesthesia on long-term survival in cancer surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Backgrounds

The association between anesthesia and long-term oncological outcome after cancer surgery remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the effect of propofol-based anesthesia and inhalation anesthesia on long-term survival in cancer surgery.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library until November 15, 2023. The outcomes included overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). The hazard ratio (HR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) were calculated with a random-effects model.

Results

We included forty-two retrospective cohort studies and two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 686,923 patients. Propofol-based anesthesia was associated with improved OS (HR = 0.82, 95 % CI:0.76-0.88, P < 0.00001) and RFS (HR = 0.80, 95 % CI:0.73-0.88, P < 0.00001) than inhalation anesthesia after cancer surgery. However, these positive results were only observed in single-center studies (OS: HR = 0.76, 95 % CI:0.68-0.84, P < 0.00001; RFS: HR = 0.76, 95 % CI:0.66-0.87, P < 0.0001), but not in multicenter studies (OS: HR = 0.98, 95 % CI:0.94-1.03, P = 0.51; RFS: HR = 0.95, 95 % CI:0.87-1.04, P = 0.26). The subgroup analysis revealed that propofol-based anesthesia provided OS and RFS advantages in hepatobiliary cancer (OS: HR = 0.58, 95 % CI:0.40-0.86, P = 0.005; RFS: HR = 0.62, 95 % CI:0.44-0.86, P = 0.005), gynecological cancer (OS: HR = 0.52, 95 % CI:0.33-0.81, P = 0.004; RFS: HR = 0.51, 95 % CI:0.36-0.72, P = 0.0001), and osteosarcoma (OS: HR = 0.30, 95 % CI:0.11-0.81, P = 0.02; RFS: HR = 0.32, 95 % CI:0.14-0.75, P = 0.008) surgeries.

Conclusion

Propofol-based anesthesia may be associated with improved OS and RFS than inhalation anesthesia in some cancer surgeries. Considering the inherent weaknesses of retrospective designs and the strong publication bias, our findings should be interpreted with caution. Well-designed multicenter RCTs are still urgent to further confirm these findings.

General anaesthetics reduce acute lymphoblastic leukaemia malignancies in vitro and in vivovia CXCR4 and osteopontin mediated mechanisms

Background

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a common type of cancer in children. General anaesthetics are often used on patients undergoing painful procedures during ALL treatments but their effects on ALL malignancy remain unknown. Herein, we aim to study the effect of propofol and sevoflurane on the migration, homing and chemoresistance of ALL cells.

Methods

NALM-6 and Reh cells were treated with propofol (5 and 10 μg/ml) or sevoflurane (3.6%) in vitro for six hours. Then, cells were harvested for adhesion assay and migration assay in vitro. In in vivo experiments, GFP-NALM-6 cells were pre-treated with propofol (10 μg/ml) or sevoflurane (3.6%) for six hours. Then, cells were injected intravenously to C57BL/6 female mice followed by intravital microscopy. For chemoresistance study, cells were treated with rising concentrations of Ara-c (0.05-50 nM) plus 10μg/ml of propofol or Ara-C plus 3.6% of sevoflurane for 4 hours, followed by the assessment of cell viability via CCK-8 assay and detection of autophagy via flow cytometry.

Results

Both anaesthetics reduced in vivo migration and in vivo homing as exemplified by 1) the reduction in the number of cells entering the bone marrow and 2) the disturbance in homing location in relation to endosteal surface. Our results indicated that general anaesthetics reduced the surface CXCR4 expression and the adhesion of leukaemia cells to thrombin cleaved osteopontin (OPN) was reduced. Those changes might result in the alterations in migration and homing. In addition, both anaesthetics sensitised ALL cells to Ara-c possibly through CXCR4 mediated mechanisms. Propofol but not sevoflurane enhanced chemo-related cell death via inducing cytotoxic autophagy.

Conclusion

Together, our data suggest that both propofol and sevoflurane could reduce ALL migration, and homing in vivo and in vitro via CXCR4 and OPN mediated mechanisms. Both anaesthetics could sensitise ALL cells to chemotherapy possibly via CXCR4 mediated mechanisms.

Lung and blood perioperative metalloproteinases in patients undergoing oncologic lung surgery: Prognostic implications

BACKGROUND

Metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been reported to be related to oncologic outcomes. The main goal of the study was to study the relationship between these proteins and the long-term prognosis of patients undergoing oncologic lung resection surgery.

METHODS

This was a substudy of the phase IV randomized control trial (NCT02168751). We analyzed MMP-2, -3, -7, and -9 in blood samples and bronchoalveolar lavage (LBA) and the relationship between MMPs and long postoperative outcomes (survival and disease-free time of oncologic recurrence).

RESULTS

Survival was longer in patients who had lower MMP-2 levels than those with higher MMP-2 in blood samples taken 6 h after surgery (6.8 vs. 5.22 years; p = 0.012) and MMP-3 (6.82 vs. 5.35 years; p = 0.03). In contrast, survival was longer when MMP-3 levels were higher in LBA from oncologic lung patients than those with lower MMP-3 (7.96 vs. 6.02 years; p = 0.005). Recurrence-free time was longer in patients who had lower MMP-3 levels in blood samples versus higher (5.97 vs. 4.23 years; p = 0.034) as well as lower MMP-7 (5.96 vs. 4.5 years; p = 0.041) or lower MMP-9 in LBA samples (6.21 vs. 4.18 years; p = 0.012).

CONCLUSION

MMPs were monitored during the perioperative period of oncologic lung resection surgery. These biomarkers were associated with mortality and recurrence-free time. The role of the different MMPs analyzed during the study do not have the same prognostic implications after this kind of surgery.

The association between intraoperative anesthesia methods used during gastric cancer surgery and long-term mortality: A retrospective observational study using a Japanese claims database

PURPOSE

Various basic and clinical studies have investigated the association between the types of anesthetic agents and prognosis. However, the results have varied among studies and remain controversial. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether the risk of all-cause mortality differs between inhaled or intravenous anesthetics in patients with gastric cancer undergoing gastrectomy.

METHODS

Using a Japanese nationwide insurance claims database, we analyzed patients who underwent gastrectomy under general anesthesia for gastric cancer between January 2005 and September 2019. Postoperative outcomes were compared between two groups: those who received inhaled anesthetics (Sevoflurane, Isoflurane, or Desflurane) and those who received intravenous anesthetics (propofol), using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. The primary outcome was overall survival.

RESULTS

Among 2671 eligible patients, 2105 were in the inhaled anesthetic group, and 566 were in the intravenous anesthetic group. The median (interquartile range) age was 58 (51-63) years, and 1979 (74.1%) were men. The median follow-up period was 795 days. We identified 56 (2.7%) and 16 (2.8%) deaths during the follow-up period in the inhaled and intravenous anesthetic use groups, respectively. There was no difference in postoperative overall survival between the two groups (hazard ratio, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.56-1.70; P = 0.93).

CONCLUSIONS

We found no significant difference in the postoperative risks of overall survival between inhaled and intravenous anesthesia in patients with gastric cancer undergoing gastrectomy.

Impact of anesthesia on postoperative breast cancer prognosis: A narrative review

The incidence of breast cancer has exhibited an annually increasing trend, and the disease has become the most common malignant tumour worldwide. Currently, the primary treatment for breast cancer is surgical resection. However, metastatic recurrence is the main cause of cancer-related death in this patient population. Various factors are associated with breast cancer prognosis, and anaesthesia-induced changes in the tumour microenvironment have attracted increasing attention. To date, however, it remains unclear whether anaesthetic drugs have a positive or negative impact on cancer outcomes after surgery. The present article reviews the effects of different anaesthetics on the postoperative prognosis of breast cancer surgery to guide the choice of anaesthetic technique(s) and agents for such patients.

Propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia is associated with less postoperative recurrence than desflurane anesthesia in thyroid cancer surgery

BACKGROUND

The effects of anesthesia in patients undergoing thyroid cancer surgery are still not known. We investigated the relationship between the type of anesthesia and patient outcomes following elective thyroid cancer surgery.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent elective surgical resection for papillary thyroid carcinoma between January 2009 and December 2019. Patients were grouped according to the type of anesthesia they received, desflurane or propofol. A Kaplan-Meier analysis was conducted, and survival/recurrence curves were presented from the date of surgery to death/recurrence. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were used to compare hazard ratios for recurrence after propensity matching.

RESULTS

A total of 621 patients (22 deaths, 3.5%) under desflurane anesthesia and 588 patients (32 deaths, 5.4%) under propofol anesthesia were included. Five hundred and eighty-eight patients remained in each group after propensity matching. Propofol anesthesia was not associated with better survival compared to desflurane anesthesia in the matched analysis (P = 0.086). However, propofol anesthesia was associated with less recurrence (hazard ratio, 0.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.25-0.56; P < 0.001) in the matched analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Propofol anesthesia was associated with less recurrence, but not mortality, following surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma than desflurane anesthesia. Further prospective investigation is needed to examine the influence of propofol anesthesia on patient outcomes following thyroid cancer surgery.

On the horns of a dilemma: choosing total intravenous anaesthesia or volatile anaesthesia for cancer surgery, an enduring controversy

Two methods for administering general anaesthesia are widely used: propofol-based total intravenous anaesthesia (propofol-TIVA) and inhalation volatile agent-based anaesthesia. Both modalities, which have been standards of care for several decades, boast a robust safety profile. Nevertheless, the potential differential effects of these anaesthetic techniques on immediate, intermediate, and extended postoperative outcomes remain a subject of inquiry. We discuss a recently published longitudinal analysis stemming from a multicentre randomised controlled trial comparing sevoflurane-based inhalation anaesthesia with propofol-TIVA in older patients with cancer, which showed a reduced incidence of emergence and postoperative delirium, comparable postoperative complication rates within 30 days after surgery, and comparable long-term survival rates. We undertake an assessment of the trial's methodological strengths and limitations, contextualise its results within the broader scientific evidence, and explore avenues for resolving the extant controversies in anaesthetic choice for cancer surgery. We aim to pave the way for the incorporation of precision medicine paradigms into the evolving landscape of perioperative care for patients with cancer.

Bibliometric Evaluation of the 100 Top-Cited Articles on Anesthesiology

This review is a bibliometric analysis based on anesthesiology, which is a medical specialty that deals with a patient's complete preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care. The objective of the review attempts to analyze the bibliometric characteristics of the 100 most top-cited articles on anesthesiology. The meta-data of the study were collected from the Core Collection of Web of Science database. A title search option was employed, and "Anesthesia" and "Anesthesiology" were typed in two different search boxes separated with the Boolean operator ''OR''. Further, the data were sorted by highest citation order; later, "article" was selected from the filter of document type, and all other types of documents were excluded. Finally, downloaded the bibliographic details of the 100 top-cited articles. VOSviewer Software (version 1.6.10 by van Eck and Waltman) was used for bibliometric network analysis for co-authors and keywords. Pearson chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. The 100 top-cited articles were published between the years of 1971 and 2018. These articles gained a maximum of 1006 to a minimum of 276 citations with an average of 384.57 cites/article. Open accessed articles gained a slightly higher ratio of citations, while more than half of the articles were published in the two leading journals of "Anesthesiology" and "Anesthesia and Analgesia". There was no statistically significant difference in both citation analysis among open and closed access journals and Anesthesia vs Non-Anesthesia journals. Thirty-six articles were published in journals not specifically related to Anesthesia. Most of the top-cited articles were contributed by the United States, whereas Surgery and General Anesthesia were the two most occurred keywords.  We conclude that all the top-cited articles in anesthesiology were contributed by authors who belonged to the developed nations and the United States outclassed the rest of the world. This bibliometric analysis would be valuable to practitioners, academics, researchers, and students to understand the dynamics of progress in the field of anesthesiology.

Tumour excisional surgery, anaesthetic-analgesic techniques, and oncologic outcomes: a narrative review

Cancer is a growing global burden; there were an estimated 18 million new cancer diagnoses worldwide in 2020. Excisional surgery remains one of the main treatments for solid organ tumours in cancer patients and is potentially curative. Cancer- and surgery-induced inflammatory processes can facilitate residual tumour cell survival, growth, and subsequent recurrence. However, it has been hypothesised that anaesthetic and analgesic techniques during surgery might influence the risk of cancer recurrence. This narrative review aims to provide an updated summary of recent observational studies and new randomised controlled clinical trials on whether certain specific anaesthetic and analgesic techniques or perioperative interventions during tumour resection surgery of curative intent materially affect long-term oncologic outcomes.

Impact of Propofol-based Total Intravenous Anesthesia Versus Inhalation Anesthesia on Long-term Survival After Cancer Surgery in a Nationwide Cohort

OBJECTIVE

To compare the impact of propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) versus inhalational anesthesia (IA) on the overall survival following cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND

The association between intraoperative anesthetics and patients' long-term outcomes following cancer surgery remains controversial.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study used nationwide data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Adult patients who underwent cancer resection surgery (breast, gastric, lung, liver, kidney, colorectal, pancreatic, esophageal, and bladder cancer) under general anesthesia between January 2007 and December 2016 were included. Patients were divided into propofol-based TIVA or IA groups according to the type of anesthesia received. A total of 312,985 patients (37,063 in the propofol-based TIVA group and 275,922 patients in the IA group) were eligible for analysis. The primary outcome was the comparison of overall survival following surgery between the groups in each cancer type. We compared the all-cause mortality between the 2 groups, stratified by cancer type using time-dependent Cox regression after propensity score-based inverse probability of treatment weighting. We further examined the comparison of overall survival in a meta-analysis using data from our study and previously published data comparing propofol-based TIVA with IA after cancer surgery.

RESULTS

The number of deaths in the propofol-based TIVA and IA groups was 5037 (13.6%) and 45,904 (16.6%), respectively; the median (interquartile range) follow-up duration was 1192 (637-2011) days. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed no significant association between the type of general anesthesia and overall survival after cancer surgery in the weighted cohort for each cancer type (all P >0.05) and for total population [adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.93-1.04]. In a meta-analysis, single-center studies showed higher overall survival in the TIVA group than in the IA group (pooled adjusted HR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.47-0.91, P =0.01), while multicenter studies showed insignificant pooled adjusted HRs (pooled adjusted HR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.82-1.33, P =0.71).

CONCLUSIONS

There is no association between the type of general anesthesia used during cancer surgery and postoperative overall, 1-, and 5-year survival.

Type of anesthesia for cancer resection surgery: No differential impact on cancer recurrence in mouse models of breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Surgery is essential for curative treatment of solid tumors. Evidence from recent retrospective clinical analyses suggests that use of propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia during cancer resection surgery is associated with improved overall survival compared to inhaled volatile anesthesia. Evaluating these findings in prospective clinical studies is required to inform definitive clinical guidelines but will take many years and requires biomarkers to monitor treatment effect. Therefore, we examined the effect of different anesthetic agents on cancer recurrence in mouse models of breast cancer with the overarching goal of evaluating plausible mechanisms that could be used as biomarkers of treatment response.

METHODS

To test the hypothesis that volatile anesthesia accelerates breast cancer recurrence after surgical resection of the primary tumor, we used three mouse models of breast cancer. We compared volatile sevoflurane anesthesia with intravenous propofol anesthesia and used serial non-invasive bioluminescent imaging to track primary tumor recurrence and metastatic recurrence. To determine short-term perioperative effects, we evaluated the effect of anesthesia on vascular integrity and immune cell changes after surgery in animal models.

RESULTS

Survival analyses found that the kinetics of cancer recurrence and impact on survival were similar regardless of the anesthetic agent used during cancer surgery. Vascular permeability, immune cell infiltration and cytokine profiles showed no statistical difference after resection with inhaled sevoflurane or intravenous propofol anesthesia.

CONCLUSIONS

These preclinical studies found no evidence that choice of anesthetic agent used during cancer resection surgery affected either short-term perioperative events or long-term cancer outcomes in mouse models of breast cancer. These findings raise the possibility that mouse models do not recapitulate perioperative events in cancer patients. Nonetheless, the findings suggest that future evaluation of effects of anesthesia on cancer outcomes should focus on cancer types other than breast cancer.

Anaesthesia in Veterinary Oncology: The Effects of Surgery, Volatile and Intravenous Anaesthetics on the Immune System and Tumour Spread

Throughout the course of oncological disease, the majority of patients require surgical, anaesthetic and analgesic intervention. However, during the perioperative period, anaesthetic agents and techniques, surgical tissue trauma, adjuvant drugs for local pain and inflammation and other non-pharmacological factors, such as blood transfusions, hydration, temperature and nutrition, may influence the prognosis of the disease. These factors significantly impact the oncologic patient's immune response, which is the primary barrier to tumour progress, promoting a window of vulnerability for its dissemination and recurrence. More research is required to ascertain which anaesthetics and techniques have immunoprotective and anti-tumour effects, which will contribute to developing novel anaesthetic strategies in veterinary medicine.

Influence of the Anesthetic Technique on Circulating Extracellular Vesicles in Bladder Cancer Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy: A Prospective, Randomized Trial

Anesthetics have been shown to alter tumor progression and seem to influence surgical cancer outcome. Circulating extracellular vesicles as mediators of intercellular communication are involved in cancer progression and may be influenced by anesthetics. In this prospective, randomized study, effects of anesthetics on extracellular vesicles and associated micro-RNAs in bladder cancer patients undergoing radical cystectomy were tested. Extracellular vesicles from 51 patients at four perioperative time points receiving Propofol or Sevoflurane were extracted with polymer-based methods and quantified with a nanoparticle-tracking analysis. Vesicle-associated micro-RNAs were analyzed with a real-time polymerase chain reaction using array cards and single assays for tumor-associated miR-21-5p, miR-15a-5p, miR-17-5p and miR-451a. Plasma extracellular vesicle concentration (suture: fold change (fc) in Propofol at 4.1 ± 3.9 vs. Sevoflurane at 0.8 ± 0.5; p = 0.003) and associated miRNAs increased significantly (+30% post induction, +9% 30 Min surgery) in the Propofol group. Tumor-associated miRNAs increased during surgery in both groups (fc in miR-21-5p: 24.3 ± 10.2, p = 0.029; fc in miR-15a-5p: 9.7 ± 3.8, p = 0.027; fc in miR-17-5p: 5.4 ± 1.7, p = 0.014), whereas antitumor miR-451a increased in the Propofol group only (fc: 2.5 ± 0.6 vs. 1.0 ± 0.2; p = 0.022). Anesthetics influence extracellular vesicles and associated micro-RNAs of bladder cancer patients during surgery. Increased expression of antitumor micro-RNA may be an explanatory approach for decreased tumor cell viability after Propofol.

Total intravenous anesthesia versus inhalation anesthesia: how do outcomes compare?

RECENT FINDINGS

Surgical procedures that involve general anesthesia are performed with either volatile anesthetics or propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia. Both techniques are safe and provide appropriate conditions for surgery. Despite being a well established anesthetic, the use of propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) remains low. Possible explanations include the perceived increase risk of awareness, lack of target controlled infusion devices, increased turnover time for device set up and individual preference.

SUMMARY

There are some scenarios where patients could potentially benefit from propofol-based TIVA rather than a volatile anesthetic (e.g. postoperative nausea and vomiting) and some other clinical scenarios where the use of propofol-based anesthesia remains controversial since the strength of the evidence remains low.

PURPOSE

In this review we will summarize the clinical evidence comparing the effect of propofol-based TIVA and volatile anesthetic on postoperative outcomes such as postoperative nausea and vomiting, postoperative pain, quality of recovery, postoperative cognitive dysfunction and cancer outcomes.

The differential cancer growth associated with anaesthetics in a cancer xenograft model of mice: mechanisms and implications of postoperative cancer recurrence

Anaesthetics may modify colorectal cancer cell biology which potentially affects long-term survival. This study aims to compare propofol and sevoflurane regarding with the direct anaesthetic effects on cancer malignancy and the indirect effects on host immunity in a cancer xenograft mode of mice. Cultured colon cancer cell (Caco-2) was injected subcutaneously to nude mice (day 1). Mice were exposed to either 1.5% sevoflurane for 1.5 h or propofol (20 μg g-1; ip injection) with or without 4 μg g-1 lipopolysaccharide (LPS; ip) from days 15 to 17, compared with those without anaesthetic exposure as controls. The clinical endpoints including tumour volumes over 70 mm3 were closely monitored up to day 28. Tumour samples from the other cohorts were collected on day 18 for PCR array, qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescent assessment. Propofol treatment reduced tumour size (mean ± SD; 23.0 ± 6.2mm3) when compared to sevoflurane (36.0 ± 0.3mm3) (p = 0.008) or control (23.6 ± 4.7mm3). Propofol decreased hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF1α), interleukin 1β (IL1β), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene expressions and increased tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP-2) gene and protein expression in comparison to sevoflurane in the tumour tissue. LPS suppressed tumour growth in any conditions whilst increased TIMP-2 and anti-cancer neutrophil marker expressions and decreased macrophage marker expressions compared to those in the LPS-untreated groups. Our data indicated that sevoflurane increased cancer development when compared with propofol in vivo under non-surgical condition. Anaesthetics tested in this study did not alter the effects of LPS as an immune modulator in changing immunocyte phenotype and suppressing cancer development.

Long-term survival in older patients given propofol or sevoflurane anaesthesia for major cancer surgery: follow-up of a multicentre randomised trial

BACKGROUND

Experimental evidence indicates that i.v. anaesthesia might reduce cancer recurrence compared with volatile anaesthesia, but clinical information is observational only. We therefore tested the primary hypothesis that propofol-based anaesthesia improves survival over 3 or more years after potentially curative major cancer surgery.

METHODS

This was a long-term follow-up of a multicentre randomised trial in 14 tertiary hospitals in China. We enrolled 1228 patients aged 65-90 yr who were scheduled for major cancer surgery. They were randomised to either propofol-based i.v. anaesthesia or to sevoflurane-based inhalational anaesthesia. The primary endpoint was overall survival after surgery. Secondary endpoints included recurrence-free and event-free survival.

RESULTS

Amongst subjects randomised, 1195 (mean age 72 yr; 773 [65%] male) were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis. At the end of follow-up (median 43 months), there were 188 deaths amongst 598 patients (31%) assigned to propofol-based anaesthesia compared with 175 deaths amongst 597 patients (29%) assigned to sevoflurane-based anaesthesia; adjusted hazard ratio 1.02; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.83-1.26; P=0.834. Recurrence-free survival was 223/598 (37%) in patients given propofol anaesthesia vs 206/597 (35%) given sevoflurane anaesthesia; adjusted hazard ratio 1.07; 95% CI: 0.89-1.30; P=0.465. Event-free survival was 294/598 (49%) in patients given propofol anaesthesia vs 274/597 (46%) given sevoflurane anaesthesia; adjusted hazard ratio 1.09; 95% CI 0.93 to 1.29; P=0.298.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term survival after major cancer surgery was similar with i.v. and volatile anaesthesia. Propofol-based iv. anaesthesia should not be used for cancer surgery with the expectation that it will improve overall or cancer-specific survival.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATIONS

ChiCTR-IPR-15006209; NCT02660411.

Anaesthetic Techniques and Strategies: Do They Influence Oncological Outcomes?

BACKGROUND

With the global disease burden of cancer increasing, and with at least 60% of cancer patients requiring surgery and, hence, anaesthesia over their disease course, the question of whether anaesthetic and analgesia techniques during primary cancer resection surgery might influence long term oncological outcomes assumes high priority.

METHODS

We searched the available literature linking anaesthetic-analgesic techniques and strategies during tumour resection surgery to oncological outcomes and synthesised this narrative review, predominantly using studies published since 2019. Current evidence is presented around opioids, regional anaesthesia, propofol total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) and volatile anaesthesia, dexamethasone, dexmedetomidine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and beta-blockers.

CONCLUSIONS

The research base in onco-anaesthesia is expanding. There continue to be few sufficiently powered RCTs, which are necessary to confirm a causal link between any perioperative intervention and long-term oncologic outcome. In the absence of any convincing Level 1 recommending a change in practice, long-term oncologic benefit should not be part of the decision on choice of anaesthetic technique for tumour resection surgery.

Propofol and survival: an updated meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

BACKGROUND

Propofol is one of the most widely used hypnotic agents in the world. Nonetheless, propofol might have detrimental effects on clinically relevant outcomes, possibly due to inhibition of other interventions' organ protective properties. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to evaluate if propofol reduced survival compared to any other hypnotic agent in any clinical setting.

METHODS

We searched eligible studies in PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Register of Clinical Trials. The following inclusion criteria were used: random treatment allocation and comparison between propofol and any comparator in any clinical setting. The primary outcome was mortality at the longest follow-up available. We conducted a fixed-effects meta-analysis for the risk ratio (RR). Using this RR and 95% confidence interval, we estimated the probability of any harm (RR > 1) through Bayesian statistics. We registered this systematic review and meta-analysis in PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42022323143).

RESULTS

We identified 252 randomized trials comprising 30,757 patients. Mortality was higher in the propofol group than in the comparator group (760/14,754 [5.2%] vs. 682/16,003 [4.3%]; RR = 1.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.20; p = 0.03; I² = 0%; number needed to harm = 235), corresponding to a 98.4% probability of any increase in mortality. A statistically significant mortality increase in the propofol group was confirmed in subgroups of cardiac surgery, adult patients, volatile agent as comparator, large studies, and studies with low mortality in the comparator arm.

CONCLUSIONS

Propofol may reduce survival in perioperative and critically ill patients. This needs careful assessment of the risk versus benefit of propofol compared to other agents while planning for large, pragmatic multicentric randomized controlled trials to provide a definitive answer.

Association between intraoperative dexmedetomidine and all-cause mortality and recurrence after laparoscopic resection of colorectal cancer: Follow-up analysis of a previous randomized controlled trial

Background

Dexmedetomidine (DEX) has been widely applied in the anesthesia and sedation of patients with oncological diseases. However, the potential effect of DEX on tumor metastasis remains contradictory. This study follows up on patients who received intraoperative DEX during laparoscopic resection of colorectal cancer as part of a previous clinical trial, examining their outcomes 5 years later.

Methods

Between June 2015 and December 2015, 60 patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection were randomly assigned to the DEX and control groups. The DEX group received an initial loading dose of 1μ/kg before surgery, followed by a continuous infusion of 0.3μg/kg/h during the operation and the Control group received an equivalent volume of saline. A 5-year follow-up analysis was conducted to evaluate the overall survival, disease-free survival, and tumor recurrence.

Results

The follow-up analysis included 55 of the 60 patients. The DEX group included 28 patients, while the control group included 27 patients. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups, except for vascular and/or neural invasion of the tumor in the DEX group (9/28 vs. 0/27, p = 0.002). We did not observe a statistically significant benefit but rather a trend toward an increase in overall survival and disease-free survival in the DEX group, 1-year overall survival (96.4% vs. 88.9%, p = 0.282), 2-year overall survival (89.3% vs. 74.1%, p = 0.144), 3-year overall survival (89.3% vs. 70.4%, p = 0.08), and 5-year overall survival (78.6% vs. 59.3%, p = 0.121). The total rates of mortality and recurrence between the two groups were comparable (8/28 vs. 11/27, p = 0.343).

Conclusion

Administration of DEX during laparoscopic resection of colorectal cancer had a nonsignificant trend toward improved overall survival and disease-free survival.

Clinical Trial Registration

http://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTRIOR-15006518.

Anesthesia and pain management of pediatric cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy has shown to improve survival in patients with extensive or refractory abdominal tumors of many different histologies. Postoperative pain control can be challenging as the surgical procedure is performed through a midline laparotomy incision from xiphoid to symphysis pubis, and patients are usually nothing by mouth for the first 8-10 postoperative days.

AIMS

We present the anesthetic management and postoperative pain control strategies for cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy using a multimodal, opioid-sparing, and total intravenous anesthetic technique with a tunneled thoracic epidural.

METHODS

A single institution retrospective review of anesthetic management, intraoperative fluid and blood administration, and postoperative pain control for pediatric patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy between July 2018 and December 2020 was conducted. We employed a novel anesthetic and analgesia protocol consisting of premedication with gabapentin followed by intraoperative infusions of propofol, dexmedetomidine, ketamine, and cisatracurium. A tunneled thoracic epidural catheter was placed for management of pain.

RESULTS

We reviewed and analyzed the first 25 patient records. The most common diagnosis was desmoplastic small round cell tumor (n = 12). Median age of patients was 14 years (range 21 months-22 years). All patients were extubated in the operating room and no patients required reintubation. There were no incidences of acute kidney injury. Epidural infusions were used for a median of 8 days (range 2-14 days). Median postoperative intravenous opioid use (morphine equivalent) through postoperative day 10 was 0.02 mg/kg/day (range 0-0.86 mg/kg/day) administered for a median of 2 days (range 0-17 days). Nine patients (36%) did not require any intravenous opioids in the postoperative period.

CONCLUSIONS

Utilizing a multimodal, opioid-sparing, total intravenous anesthetic technique in conjunction with a tunneled thoracic epidural catheter, we were able to avoid the need for postoperative mechanical ventilation and minimize both intraoperative and postoperative opioid requirements.

The impact of endocrine disrupting compounds and carcinogens in wastewater: Implications for breast cancer

The incidence of breast cancer is often associated with geographic variation which indicates that a person's surrounding environment can be an important etiological factor in cancer development. Environmental risk factors can include exposure to sewage- or wastewater, which consist of a complex mixture of pathogens, mutagens and carcinogens. Wastewater contains primarily carbonaceous, nitrogenous and phosphorus compounds, however it can also contain trace amounts of chemical pollutants including toxic metal cations, hydrocarbons and pesticides. More importantly, the contamination of drinking water by wastewater is a potential source of exposure to mammary carcinogens and endocrine disrupting compounds. Organic solvents and other pollutants often found in wastewater have been detected in various tissues, including breast and adipose tissues. Furthermore, these pollutants such as phenolic compounds in some detergents and plastics, as well as parabens and pesticides can mimic estrogen. High estrogen levels are a well-established risk factor for estrogen-receptor (ER) positive breast cancer. Therefore, exposure to wastewater is a risk factor for the initiation, progression and metastasis of breast cancer. Carcinogens present in wastewater can promote tumourigenesis through various mechanisms, including the formation of DNA adducts, gene mutations and oxidative stress. Lastly, the presence of endocrine disrupting compounds in wastewater can have negative implications for ER-positive breast cancers, where these molecules can activate ERα to promote cell proliferation, survival and metastasis. As such, strategies should be implemented to limit exposure, such as providing funding into treatment technologies and implementation of regulations that limit the production and use of these potentially harmful chemicals.

The Effect of Different Anesthetic Techniques on Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Gene Expression in Colon Cancer Cells: A Pilot In Vitro Study

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer is highly common and causes high mortality rates. Treatment for colorectal cancer is multidisciplinary, but in most cases the main option remains surgery. Intriguingly, in recent years, a number of studies have shown that a patient's postoperative outcome may be influenced by certain anesthetic drugs. Our main objective was to compare the effect of propofol-total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with sevoflurane anesthesia and to investigate the potential role of intravenous lidocaine on colon cancer cell functions. We tested the effects of serum from colorectal cancer patients undergoing TIVA vs. sevoflurane anesthesia with or without lidocaine on HCT 116 cell lines; on proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and cell cycles; and on cancer-related gene expressions.

METHODS

60 patients who were scheduled for colorectal cancer surgery were randomized into four different groups (two groups with TIVA and two groups with sevoflurane anesthesia with or without intravenous lidocaine). Blood samples were collected at the start and at the end of surgery. HCT 116 cells were exposed to the patients' serum.

RESULTS

15 patients were included in each of the study groups. We did not find any significant difference on cell viability or apoptosis between the study groups. However, there was an increased apoptosis in propofol groups, but this result was not statistically significant. A significant increase in the expression profile of the TP53 gene in the propofol group was registered (p = 0.029), while in the other study groups, no significant differences were reported. BCL2 and CASP3 expressions increased in the sevoflurane-lidocaine group without statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, serum from patients receiving different anesthetic techniques did not significantly influence the apoptosis, migration, and cell cycle of HCT-116 colorectal carcinoma cells. Viability was also not significantly influenced by the anesthetic technique, except the sevoflurane-lidocaine group where it was increased. The gene expression of TP53 was significantly increased in the propofol group, which is consistent with the results of similar in vitro studies and may be one of the mechanisms by which anesthetic agents may influence the biology of cancer cells. Further studies that investigate the effects of propofol and lidocaine in different plasma concentrations on different colon cancer cell lines and assess the impacts of these findings on the clinical outcome are much needed.

General Anesthetics in CAncer REsection Surgery (GA-CARES) randomized multicenter trial of propofol vs volatile inhalational anesthesia: protocol description

BACKGROUND

Studies indicate that patients can be "seeded" with their own cancer cells during oncologic surgery and that the immune response to these circulating cancer cells might influence the risk of cancer recurrence. Preliminary data from animal studies and some retrospective analyses suggest that anesthetic technique might affect the immune response during surgery and hence the risk of cancer recurrence. In 2015, experts called for prospective scientific inquiry into whether anesthetic technique used in cancer resection surgeries affects cancer-related outcomes such as recurrence and mortality. Therefore, we designed a pragmatic phase 3 multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) called General Anesthetics in Cancer Resection (GA-CARES).

METHODS

After clinical trial registration and institutional review board approval, patients providing written informed consent were enrolled at five sites in New York (NY) State. Eligible patients were adults with known or suspected cancer undergoing one of eight oncologic surgeries having a high risk of cancer recurrence. Exclusion criteria included known or suspected history of malignant hyperthermia or hypersensitivity to either propofol or volatile anesthetic agents. Patients were randomized (1:1) stratified by center and surgery type using REDCap to receive either propofol or volatile agent for maintenance of general anesthesia (GA). This pragmatic trial, which seeks to assess the potential impact of anesthetic type in "real world practice", did not standardize any aspect of patient care. However, potential confounders, e.g., use of neuroaxial anesthesia, were recorded to confirm the balance between study arms. Assuming a 5% absolute difference in 2-year overall survival rates (85% vs 90%) between study arms (primary endpoint, minimum 2-year follow-up), power using a two-sided log-rank test with type I error of 0.05 (no planned interim analyses) was calculated to be 97.4% based on a target enrollment of 1800 subjects. Data sources include the National Death Index (gold standard for vital status in the USA), NY Cancer Registry, and electronic harvesting of data from electronic medical records (EMR), with minimal manual data abstraction/data entry.

DISCUSSION

Enrollment has been completed (n = 1804) and the study is in the follow-up phase. This unfunded, pragmatic trial, uses a novel approach for data collection focusing on electronic sources.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registered (NCT03034096) on January 27, 2017, prior to consent of the first patient on January 31, 2017.

Association of regional anesthesia with oncological outcomes in patients receiving surgery for bladder cancer: A meta-analysis of observational studies

Background

This meta-analysis was conducted to compare cancer recurrence and survival rates in patients with bladder cancer receiving surgery under general anesthesia alone (i.e., GA group) or regional anesthesia (RA) with or without GA (i.e., RA ± GA group).

Methods

Literature search on Cochrane library, EMBASE, Google scholar, and Medline databases was performed to identify all relevant studies from inception to April 30, 2022. The primary outcome was cancer recurrence rate, while the secondary outcomes included overall survival rate and cancer-specific survival rate. Subgroup analyses were performed based on study design [(Propensity-score matching (PSM) vs. no-PSM)] and type of surgery [transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) vs. radical cystectomy].

Results

Ten retrospective studies with a total of 13,218 patients (RA ± GA group n=4,884, GA group n=8,334) were included. There was no difference between RA ± GA group and GA group in age, the proportion of males, severe comorbidities, the proportion of patients receiving chemotherapy, and the pathological findings (all p >0.05). Patients in the RA ± GA group had significantly lower rate of bladder cancer recurrence [odds ratio (OR): 0.74, 95%CI: 0.61 to 0.9, p=0.003, I^{2 =} 24%, six studies] compared to those in the GA group. Subgroup analyses based on study design revealed a consistent finding, while the beneficial effect of RA ± GA on reducing cancer recurrence was only significant in patients receiving TURBT (p=0.02), but not in those undergoing radical cystectomy (p=0.16). There were no significant differences in overall survival rate and cancer-specific survival rate between RA ± GA and GA groups.

Conclusions

For patients receiving surgery for bladder cancer, the application of regional anesthesia with or without general anesthesia is associated with significant decrease in cancer recurrence, especially in patients undergoing TURBT for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Because of the limited number of studies included and potential confounding factors, our results should be interpreted carefully.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42022328134.

Influence of Perioperative Anesthesia on Cancer Recurrence: from Basic Science to Clinical Practice

PURPOSEOF REVIEW

In this review, we will summarize the effects of these perioperative anesthetics and anesthetic interventions on the immune system and tumorigenesis as well as address the related clinical evidence on cancer-related mortality and recurrence.

RECENT FINDINGS

Cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. For many solid tumors, surgery is one of the major therapies. Unfortunately, surgery promotes angiogenesis, shedding of circulating cancer cells, and suppresses immunity. Hence, the perioperative period has a close relationship with cancer metastases or recurrence. In the perioperative period, patients require multiple anesthetic management including anesthetics, anesthetic techniques, and body temperature control. Preclinical and retrospective studies have found that these anesthetic agents and interventions have complex effects on cancer outcomes. Therefore, well-planned, prospective, randomized controlled trials are required to explore the effects of different anesthetics and techniques on long-term outcomes after cancer surgery. Due to the conflicting effects of anesthetic management on cancer recurrence, further preclinical and clinical trials are required and beneficial to the development of systemic cancer therapies.

Total versus inhaled intravenous anesthesia methods for prognosis of patients with lung, breast, or esophageal cancer: A cohort study

Objective

To explore the influences of total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) and inhaled-intravenous anesthesia on the prognosis of patients with lung, breast, or esophageal cancer.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, patients with lung, breast, or esophageal cancer who underwent surgical treatments at Beijing Shijitan Hospital between January 2010 and December 2019 were included. The patients were categorized into the TIVA group and inhaled-intravenous anesthesia group, according to the anesthesia methods used for the patients for surgery of the primary cancer. The primary outcome of this study included overall survival (OS) and recurrence/metastasis.

Results

Totally, 336 patients were included in this study, 119 in the TIVA group and 217 in the inhaled-intravenous anesthesia group. The OS of patients in the TIVA group was higher than in the inhaled-intravenous anesthesia group (P = 0.042). There were no significant differences in the recurrence/metastasis-free survival between the two groups (P = 0.296). Inhaled-intravenous anesthesia (HR = 1.88, 95%CI: 1.15-3.07, P = 0.012), stage III cancer (HR = 5.88, 95%CI: 2.57-13.43, P < 0.001), and stage IV cancer (HR = 22.60, 95%CI: 8.97-56.95, P < 0.001) were independently associated with recurrence/ metastasis. Comorbidities (HR = 1.75, 95%CI: 1.05-2.92, P = 0.033), the use of ephedrine, noradrenaline or phenylephrine during surgery (HR = 2.12, 95%CI: 1.11-4.06, P = 0.024), stage II cancer (HR = 3.24, 95%CI: 1.08-9.68, P = 0.035), stage III cancer (HR = 7.60, 95%CI: 2.64-21.86, P < 0.001), and stage IV cancer (HR = 26.61, 95%CI: 8.57-82.64, P < 0.001) were independently associated with OS.

Conclusion

In patients with breast, lung, or esophageal cancer, TIVA is preferable than inhaled-intravenous anesthesia group for longer OS,, but TIVA was not associated with the recurrence/metastasis-free survival of patients.

Does the Choice of Anaesthesia Affect Cancer? A Molecular Crosstalk between Theory and Practice

In recent years, there has been an increasing scientific interest in the interaction between anaesthesia and cancer development. Retrospective studies show that the choice of anaesthetics may influence cancer outcome and cancer recurrence; however, these studies show contradictory results. Recently, some large randomized clinical trials have been completed, yet they show no significant effect of anaesthetics on cancer outcomes. In this scoping review, we compiled a body of in vivo and in vitro studies with the goal of evaluating the biological effects of anaesthetics on cancer cells in comparison to clinical effects as described in recent studies. It was found that sevoflurane, propofol, opioids and lidocaine are likely to display direct biological effects on cancer cells; however, significant effects are only found in studies with exposure to high concentrations of anaesthetics and/or during longer exposure times. When compared to clinical data, these differences in exposure and dose-effect relation, as well as tissue selectivity, population selection and unclear anaesthetic dosing protocols might explain the lack of outcome.

Impact of dedicated neuro-anesthesia management on clinical outcomes in glioblastoma patients: A single-institution cohort study

BACKGROUND

Glioblastomas are mostly resected under general anesthesia under the supervision of a general anesthesiologist. Currently, it is largely unkown if clinical outcomes of GBM patients can be improved by appointing a neuro-anesthesiologist for their cases. We aimed to evaluate whether the assignment of dedicated neuro-anesthesiologists improves the outcomes of these patients. We also investigated the value of dedicated neuro-oncological surgical teams as an independent variable in both groups.

METHODS

A cohort consisting of 401 GBM patients who had undergone resection was retrospectively investigated. Primary outcomes were postoperative neurological complications, fluid balance, length-of-stay and overall survival. Secondary outcomes were blood loss, anesthesia modality, extent of resection, total admission costs, and duration of surgery.

RESULTS

320 versus 81 patients were operated under the anesthesiological supervision of a general anesthesiologist and a dedicated neuro-anesthesiologist, respectively. Dedicated neuro-anesthesiologists yielded significant superior outcomes in 1) postoperative neurological complications (early: p = 0.002, OR = 2.54; late: p = 0.003, OR = 2.24); 2) fluid balance (p<0.0001); 3) length-of-stay (p = 0.0006) and 4) total admission costs (p = 0.0006). In a subanalysis of the GBM resections performed by an oncological neurosurgeon (n = 231), the assignment of a dedicated neuro-anesthesiologist independently improved postoperative neurological complications (early minor: p = 0.0162; early major: p = 0.00780; late minor: p = 0.00250; late major: p = 0.0364). The assignment of a dedicated neuro-oncological team improved extent of resection additionally (p = 0.0416).

CONCLUSION

GBM resections with anesthesiological supervision of a dedicated neuro-anesthesiologists are associated with improved patient outcomes. Prospective evidence is needed to further investigate the usefulness of the dedicated neuro-anesthesiologist in different settings.

Comparison of volatile/inhalational and IV anesthesia in long-term survival of patients with breast cancer: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

Breast cancer is a worldwide health concern, and surgical removal has remained the preferred therapeutic option in most patients. Furthermore, the current study was designed to investigate the disease-free survival and overall survival in breast cancer patients, who receive either propofol or isoflurane during operation.

METHOD

This retrospective study was conducted on 994 patients (IV group, n = 530; volatile/inhalational group, n = 464) who underwent breast cancer operation from January 2006 to December 2016 at Faghihi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran. All studied patients were followed up till 2020. Patients are classified into two groups, IV and volatile/inhalational, according to the received anesthesia. For statistical analysis, The Cox regression test was conducted to investigate the association between factors affecting the recurrence of the disease and the Log Rank test was utilized to assess the patients' survival. Finally, to reduce the effect of confounding factors, all patients were matched according to age, tumor size and tumor grade.

RESULTS

Based on results from the log-rank test, the volatile/inhalational group had a better recurrence-free survival (P = 0.039) compared to the total IV group. However, the overall survival was not considerably different (P = 0.520).

CONCLUSION

The current study showed that although 2-year disease-free survival is higher in the volatile/inhalational group, there is no meaningful association between the 5-year overall survival and anesthesia technique.

Propofol maintains Th17/Treg cell balance in elderly patients undergoing lung cancer surgery through GABAA receptor

Propofol is widely used in clinical anesthesia due to its advantages of rapid onset and less adverse reactions. This study focused on the role of propofol in the balance of Th17/Treg in elderly patients with lung cancer during perioperative period. Patients undergoing lung cancer surgery were anesthetized by propofol or sevoflurane. Veinal blood was collected at different time points to evaluate the changes of Th17/Treg cell. Propofol better maintained the balance of Th17/Treg in vivo. The peripheral blood of patients with lung cancer was collected in vitro before surgery. Cluster of differentiation (CD)4⁺ T cells were obtained and then treated with propofol at different concentrations and γ-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) receptor antagonists. Propofol affected Th17/Treg cell balance by increasing Th17 cells, decreasing Treg cells, thus elevating Th17/Treg ratio, and inhibited invasion and migration of lung cancer cells through GABAA receptor, which was counteracted by GABAA receptor inhibitors. Subsequently, tumor in situ model of lung cancer in aged mice was established. Propofol anesthetized mice had lower change of Th17/Treg ratio, higher survival rate and less metastasis. In brief, propofol regulated balance of Th17/Treg in elderly patients undergoing lung cancer surgery through GABAA receptor. Additionally, propofol could inhibit metastasis of lung cancer.

The Effect of Propofol versus Inhalation Anesthetics on Survival after Oncological Surgery

Every year, 19.3 million patients worldwide are diagnosed with cancer. Surgical resection represents a major therapeutical option and the vast majority of these patients receive anesthesia. However, despite surgical resection, almost one third of these patients develop local recurrence or distant metastases. Perioperative factors, such as surgical stress and anesthesia technique, have been suggested to play a role to a greater or lesser extent in the development of recurrences, but oncology encompasses a complicated tumor biology of which much is still unknown. The effect of total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) or volatile anesthesia (VA) on survival after oncological surgery has become a popular topic in recent years. Multiple studies conclude in favor of propofol. Despite the a priori probability that relevant differences in postoperative outcomes are due to the anesthesia technique employed, TIVA or VA, is extremely small. The existing literature includes mainly hypothesis-forming retrospective studies and small randomized trials with many methodological limitations. To date, it is unlikely that use of TIVA or VA affect cancer-free survival days to a clinically relevant extent. This review addresses all relevant studies in the field and provides a substantiated different view on this deeply controversial research topic.

Association between Intraoperative Blood Transfusion, Regional Anesthesia and Outcome after Pediatric Tumor Surgery for Nephroblastoma

BACKGROUND

Recent data suggest that anesthesiologic interventions-e.g., the choice of the anesthetic regimen or the administration of blood products-might play a major role in determining outcome after tumor surgery. In contrast to adult patients, only limited data are available regarding the potential association of anesthesia and outcome in pediatric cancer patients.

METHODS

A retrospective multicenter study assessing data from pediatric patients (0-18 years of age) undergoing surgery for nephroblastoma between 2004 and 2018 was conducted at three academic centers in Europe. Overall and recurrence-free survival were the primary outcomes of the study and were evaluated for a potential impact of intraoperative administration of erythrocyte concentrates, the use of regional anesthesia and the choice of the anesthetic regimen. The length of stay on the intensive care unit, the time to hospital discharge after surgery and blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were defined as secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

In total, data from 65 patients were analyzed. Intraoperative administration of erythrocyte concentrates was associated with a reduction in recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio (HR) 7.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36-42.2, p = 0.004), whereas overall survival (HR 5.37, 95% CI 0.42-68.4, p = 0.124) was not affected. The use of regional anesthesia and the choice of anesthetic used for maintenance of anesthesia did not demonstrate an effect on the primary outcomes. It was, however, associated with fewer ICU transfers, a shortened time to discharge and a decreased postoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study provides the first evidence for a possible association between blood transfusion as well as anesthesiologic interventions and outcome after pediatric cancer surgery.

Effect of anesthesia on the outcome of high-grade glioma patients undergoing supratentorial resection: study protocol for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

High-grade glioma (HGG) is the most malignant brain tumor with poor outcomes. Whether anesthetic methods have an impact on the outcome of these patients is still unknown. Retrospective study has found no difference between intravenous and inhalation anesthesia on the overall survival (OS) of the HGG patients, however, intravenous anesthesia with propofol might be beneficial in a subgroup of patients with a Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) Scale less than 80. Further prospective studies are needed to evaluate the results.

METHODS

This is a single-centered, randomized controlled, parallel-group trial. Three hundred forty-four patients with primary HGG for tumor resection will be randomly assigned to receive either intravenous anesthesia with propofol or inhalation anesthesia with sevoflurane. The primary outcome is the OS of the patients within 18 months. Secondary outcomes include progression-free survival (PFS), the numerical rating scale (NRS) of pain intensity and sleep quality, the postoperative encephaloedema volume, complications, and the length of hospital stay of the patients.

DISCUSSION

This is a randomized controlled trial to compare the effect of intravenous and inhalation anesthesia maintenance on the outcome of supratentorial HGG patients. The results will contribute to optimizing the anesthesia methods in these patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02756312. Registered on 29 April 2016 and last updated on 9 Sep 2020.

Propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia is associated with better survival than desflurane anesthesia in limb-salvage surgery for osteosarcoma: A retrospective analysis

Previous studies have demonstrated that anesthetic techniques can affect the outcomes of cancer surgery. We investigated the association between anesthetic techniques and patient outcomes after elective limb-salvage surgery for osteosarcoma (OS). This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent elective limb-salvage surgery for OS between January 2007 and December 2018. Patients were grouped according to the administration of propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) or desflurane (DES) anesthesia. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed, and survival curves were constructed from the date of surgery to death. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were applied to compare the hazard ratios (HRs) for death after propensity matching. Subgroup analyses were done for postoperative recurrence, metastasis, and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging. A total of 30 patients (17 deaths, 56.7%) who received DES anesthesia and 26 (4 deaths, 15.4%) who received TIVA were eligible for analysis. After propensity matching, 22 patients were included in each group. In the matched analysis, patients who received TIVA had better survival with a HR of 0.30 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11-0.81; P = .018). Subgroup analyses also showed significantly better survival in the presence of postoperative metastasis (HR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.06-0.87; P = .030) and with TNM stage II to III (HR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.09-0.73; P = .011) in the matched TIVA group. In addition, patients administered with TIVA had lower risks of postoperative recurrence and metastasis than those administered with DES anesthesia in the matched analyses. Propofol-based TIVA was associated with better survival in patients who underwent elective limb-salvage surgery for OS than DES anesthesia. Prospective studies are needed to assess the effects of TIVA on oncological outcomes in patients with OS.

General Anesthetics in Cancer Surgery: Can Anesthesiologists Help the Patient with More than a Safe Sleep

Most patients suffering from neoplastic diseases will at some point during their illness be approached surgically. Surgery itself may be unfortunately responsible for tumor proliferation and metastatic spread. With the perioperative period increasingly becoming a focus of research in anesthesia, anesthesiologists have looked at the chance to influence cancer progression based on their choice of anesthesia regimen and strategy. Many anesthetic agents have been investigated for their potential impact on the course of cancer disease. There is an abundance of retrospective studies and very few prospective ones that tackled this issue. The aim of this article is to review the current state of the evidence on general anesthesia involving volatile and intravenous agents as substrates, focusing on halogenated inhalational agents and propofol, to guide clinical decision making in assessments of the best practice for perioperative management of cancer surgery.

Effect of Propofol or Etomidate as General Anaesthesia Induction on Gastric Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study with 10 Years' Follow-Up

Objective

The aim is to study the effect of intraoperative application of propofol and etomidate on the long-term prognosis of patients with gastric cancer at the same tumor stage.

Methods

A total of 1018 patients who underwent radical gastric cancer surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 2010 to December 2010 were selected and divided into the propofol and etomidate groups according to the different anesthetic induction drugs.

Results

Among 244 patients in TNM stage IIIA, survival times were 36.10 and 41.79 for etomidate and propofol, respectively, which were statistically different (p < 0.05). Among the 82 patients in TNM stage IIIC, survival times were 26.57 and 35.20 for etomidate and propofol, respectively, which were statistically different (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

In patients undergoing radical gastric cancer surgery, the application of propofol during induction of anaesthesia is more beneficial in improving the postoperative survival time compared to the application of etomidate at a specific TNM stage.

Anesthetics and Long Term Cancer Outcomes: May Epigenetics Be the Key for Pancreatic Cancer?

Knowledge shows a divergence of results between preclinical and clinical studies regarding anesthesia and postoperative progression of cancer. While laboratory and animal data from then 2000s onwards raised much enthusiasm in this field of research leading to several clinical investigations worldwide, data from randomized trials seem to have killed off hope for many scientists. However several aspects of the actual knowledge should be reevaluated and there is space for new strategies of investigation. In this paper, we perform a critical review of actual knowledge and propose new research strategies with a special focus on anesthetic management and repurposed anesthetic adjuvants for pancreatic cancer.