A comparison of regional and general anesthesia effects on 5 year survival and cancer recurrence after transurethral resection of the bladder tumor: a retrospective analysis

Anesthetic approaches and 2-year recurrence rates in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The effect of anesthesia methods on non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) recurrence post-resection remains uncertain. We aimed to compare the oncological outcomes of spinal anesthesia (SA) and general anesthesia (GA) in patients with NMIBC.

METHODS

This prospective randomized controlled trial recruited 287 patients with clinical NMIBC at Seoul National University Hospital from 2018 to 2020. The patients underwent transurethral resection of the bladder tumor within 4 weeks of randomization. Intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine (0.5%) and a mixture of propofol (1-2 mg/kg) and fentanyl (50-100 μg/kg) were used as induction agents in the SA and GA groups, respectively, with desflurane or sevoflurane used for maintaining anesthesia. The primary and secondary outcome measures were disease recurrence and disease progression, respectively, at 2 years after resection. Cumulative incidence of outcomes was compared between the two groups using time-to-event analyses.

RESULTS

15 patients required alternative anesthesia owing to clinical needs such as SA failure or significant obturator reflex, resulting in a modified intention-to-treat (ITT) population of 272 patients. Time-to-event analysis showed a significantly lower recurrence of NMIBC in the SA group than in the GA group, in both ITT (27.4% vs 39.8%) and modified ITT populations (26.8% vs 39.6%). Disease progression occurred more frequently in the GA than in the SA group (15.2% vs 7.8%), although the difference was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

A notable reduction in the 2-year recurrence rate was observed in patients who underwent SA than in those who underwent GA. Thus, SA may be considered the preferred anesthetic approach.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03597087.

Anesthetic Approaches and Their Impact on Cancer Recurrence and Metastasis: A Comprehensive Review

Cancer recurrence and metastasis remain critical challenges following surgical resection, influenced by complex perioperative mechanisms. This review explores how surgical stress triggers systemic changes, such as neuroendocrine responses, immune suppression, and inflammation, which promote the dissemination of residual cancer cells and circulating tumor cells. Key mechanisms, such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis, further enhance metastasis, while hypoxia-inducible factors and inflammatory responses create a microenvironment conducive to tumor progression. Anesthetic agents and techniques modulate these mechanisms in distinct ways. Inhaled anesthetics, such as sevoflurane, may suppress immune function by increasing catecholamines and cytokines, thereby promoting cancer progression. In contrast, propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia mitigates stress responses and preserves natural killer cell activity, supporting immune function. Opioids suppress immune surveillance and promote angiogenesis through the activation of the mu-opioid receptor. Opioid-sparing strategies using NSAIDs show potential in preserving immune function and reducing recurrence risk. Regional anesthesia offers benefits by reducing systemic stress and immune suppression, though the clinical outcomes remain inconsistent. Additionally, dexmedetomidine and ketamine exhibit dual effects, both enhancing and inhibiting tumor progression depending on the dosage and context. This review emphasizes the importance of individualized anesthetic strategies to optimize long-term cancer outcomes. While retrospective studies suggest potential benefits of propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia and regional anesthesia, further large-scale trials are essential to establish the definitive role of anesthetic management in cancer recurrence and survival.

Effect of regional versus general anesthesia on recurrence of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of eight retrospective cohort studies

BACKGROUND

Regional anesthesia appears to reduce cancer recurrence, but the optimal anesthesia modality for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) were still under debate. Therefore, we sought to assess the effect of regional and GA only upon the recurrence and long-term prognosis of NMIBC through this meta-analysis.

METHODS

We performed an extensive literature search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (up to October 30, 2022) to identify eligible articles on the possible impact of different anesthetic modalities for the recurrence rate of NMIBC.

RESULTS

Eight studies comprising 3764 participants, including 2117 subjects with RA and 1647 with GA, were finally enrolled. Cancer recurrence rate was significantly lower in subjects with RA than those with GA (RR 0.84, 95%CI 0.72-0.98, P = 0.03). We didn't detect the differences between GA and RA in the time of recurrence (SMD 2.07, 95% CI -0.49-4.63, P = 0.11) and cancer progression (RR 1.14, 95%CI 0.71-1.84, P = 0.59). Results from subgroup analysis demonstrated that spinal anesthesia could significantly decrease the incidence of cancer recurrence in comparison with general anesthesia (RR 0.80, 95%CI 0.72-0.88, P < 0.001) and high-risk NMIBC patients who received RA tended to have less recurrence (HR 0.55, 95%CI 0.39-0.79, P = 0.001) than those receiving GA.

CONCLUSIONS

RA, especially spinal anesthesia, may be effective in reducing the recurrence rate after transurethral resection of NMIBC. More prospective experimental and clinical studies are needed to validate our findings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

INPLASY registration INPLASY2022110097.

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.

Impact of regional anesthesia on outcomes of geriatric patients undergoing lower extremity revascularization: A propensity score-matched cohort study

Lower extremity revascularization (LER) for peripheral artery disease in elderly patients is associated with a high risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to a conduct retrospective review and propensity score matching analysis to determine whether the use of regional anesthesia (RA) instead of general anesthesia (GA) in geriatric patients undergoing LER for peripheral artery disease results in improved short-term mortality and health outcomes. We reviewed medical records of 1271 patients aged >65 years who underwent LER at our center between May 1998 and February 2016. According to the anesthesia method, patients were grouped in the GA and RA groups. The primary outcome was short-term mortality (7-day and 30-day). The secondary outcomes were 5-year survival rate, intraoperative events, postoperative morbidity, and postoperative length of stay. A propensity score-matched cohort design was used to control for potentially confounding factors including patient demographics, comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, and preoperative medications. After propensity score matching, 722 patients that received LER under GA (n = 269) or RA (n = 453) were identified. Patients from the GA group showed significantly higher 7-day mortality than those from the RA group (5.6% vs 2.7% P = .048); however, there was no significant difference in 30-day mortality between the groups (GA vs RA: 6.3% vs 3.6%, P = .083). The 5-year survival rate and incidence of arterial and central venous catheter placement or intraoperative dopamine and epinephrine use were significantly higher in the GA group than in the RA group (P < .05). In addition, the frequency of immediate postoperative oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation support was higher in the GA group (P < .05). However, there was no difference in the postoperative cardiopulmonary and cerebral complications between the 2 groups. These results suggest that RA can reduce intraoperative hemodynamic support and provide immediate postoperative respiratory intensive care. In addition, the use of RA may be associated with better short-term and 5-year survival rates in geriatric patients undergoing LER.

Application of Anesthetics in Cancer Patients: Reviewing Current Existing Link With Tumor Recurrence

Surgery remains the most effective cancer treatment, but residual disease in the form of scattered micro-metastases and tumor cells is usually unavoidable. Whether minimal residual disease results in clinical metastases is a function of host defense and tumor survival and growth. The much interesting intersection of anesthesiology and immunology has drawn increasing clinical interest, particularly, the existing concern of the possibility that the perioperative and intraoperative anesthetic care of the surgical oncology patient could meaningfully influence tumor recurrence. This paper examines current data, including recent large clinical trials to determine whether the current level of evidence warrants a change in practice. Available pieces of evidence from clinical studies are particularly limited, largely retrospective, smaller sample size, and often contradictory, causing several questions and providing few answers. Recent randomized controlled clinical trials, including the largest study (NCT00418457), report no difference in cancer recurrence between regional and general anesthesia after potentially curative surgery. Until further evidence strongly implicates anesthesia in future clinical trials, clinicians may continue to choose the optimum anesthetic-analgesic agents and techniques in consultation with their cancer patients, based on their expertise and current best practice.

A Comparison of the Anesthetic Methods for Recurrence Rates of Bladder Cancer after Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumors Using National Health Insurance Claims Data of South Korea

Bladder cancers have high recurrence rates and are usually removed via transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). Recently, some reports showed that the anesthetic method may affect the recurrence rates of bladder cancers. The purpose of this population-based study was to compare the effect of anesthetic methods with the recurrence rates of bladder cancers in South Korea. A total of 4439 patients were reviewed retrospectively using the data of the Korean National Health Insurance (NHI) claims database from January 2007 to December 2011. Patients were divided into 2 groups who received general (n = 3767) and regional anesthesia (n = 582), and were followed up until September 2017. Propensity score matching was conducted to reduce the effect of confounding factors. After using propensity score matching with a multivariable Cox regression model, age (p < 0.001), sex (p < 0.001), hypertension (p = 0.003), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.001), and renal disease (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with bladder cancer recurrence. However, there were no significant differences in the recurrence rates of bladder cancers in patients who received general anesthesia and spinal anesthesia for TURBTs. This study revealed that there is no relationship between the anesthetic method and bladder cancer recurrence. Either general anesthesia or regional anesthesia can be used depending on the situation in patients receiving TURBT. Future prospective studies are warranted to confirm the association between the anesthetic method and the recurrence rates of bladder cancer.

Effects of Anesthesia and Anesthetic Techniques on Metastasis of Lung Cancers: A Narrative Review

Purpose

Tumor recurrence and metastasis are essential for the mortality and morbidity of cancer. Surgical resection of solid tumors is the conventional treatment approach for malignant tumors. However, even after undergoing radical surgery, certain patients develop local or distant metastasis, which may contribute to treatment failure. Anesthesia and anesthetic techniques are widely used in the perioperative period. Emerging evidence indicates that anesthetics influence tumor recurrence and metastasis. Therefore, the current review summarizes the effects of anesthesia and anesthetic techniques on tumor recurrence and lung metastasis.

Methods

Relevant literature was retrieved from the following databases: Medline/PubMed, CNKI and Wanfang. A total of 109 articles were selected and analyzed in this research.

Results

(1) A variety of intravenous anesthetics may affect metastasis or tumor growth, though the evidence is contradictory and inconsistent, and the clinical data are still inconclusive. (2) Volatile anesthetics have proinflammatory effects and may have direct and indirect effects on the survival of cancer cells. (3) Although the relevant clinical data are limited, there is strong evidence in vitro that local anesthetics have a protective effect on cancer recurrence. (4) No mode of anesthesia has been determined to be beneficial to patients with cancer, but clinical studies are currently recommended for anesthesia modality and composite use.

Conclusion

Available data suggest that anesthesia and anesthetic techniques might play an important role in tumor progression and lung metastasis, the understanding of which will help in designing more effective management of the tumor and attaining fewer side effects.

Perioperative and long-term outcomes of spontaneous ventilation video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for non-small cell lung cancer

Background

Spontaneous ventilation video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (SV-VATS) exhibits dual intraoperative and postoperative advantages for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, there is a lack of data regarding its long-term survival superiority over the double-lumen intubated mechanical ventilation video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (MV-VATS) or thoracotomy.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted from 2011 to 2018 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University among patients with NSCLC who underwent the SV-VATS or the MV-VATS. Patients receiving the SV-VATS were the study group, and patients receiving the MV-VATS were the control group. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to establish 1:1 SV-VATS versus MV-VATS group matching to balance potential baseline confounding factors. Primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary endpoints were perioperative outcomes. The baseline information of these patients was recorded. The perioperative data and survival data were collected using a combination of electronic data record system and telephone interview. A 1:1:1 SPM was also used to compare the OS in the SV-VATS, the MV-VATS and thoracotomy group by using another database, including patients undergoing thoracotomy and the MV-VATS.

Results

For the two-group comparison, after 1:1 PSM, a matched cohort with 400 (200:200) patients was generated. The median follow-up time in this cohort was 4.78 years (IQR, 3.78–6.62 years). The OS (HR =0.567, 95% CI, 0.330 to 0.974, P=0.0498) and the DFS (HR =0.546, 95% CI, 0.346 to 0.863, P=0.013) of the SV-VATS group were significantly better than the MV-VATS group. There were no statistically differences between the SV-VATS and the MV-VATS group on the operative time (158.56±40.09 vs. 172.06±61.75, P=0.200) anesthesia time (247.4±62.49 vs. 256.7±58.52, P=0.528), and intraoperative bleeding volume (78.88±80.25 vs. 109.932±180.86, P=0.092). For the three-group comparison, after 1:1:1 PSM, 582 (194:194:194) patients were included for the comparison of SV-VATS, MV-VATS and thoracotomy. The OS of the SV-VATS group was significantly better than the thoracotomy group (HR =0.379, 95% CI, 0.233 to 0.617, P<0.001).

Conclusions

Invasive NSCLC patients undergoing SV-VATS lobectomy demonstrated better long-term outcomes compared with MV-VATS.

Anesthetic care influences long-term outcomes: What is the evidence?

Despite advances in cancer therapy surgery remains one of the most important treatments for solid tumors; however, even with the development of better and less invasive surgical techniques, surgery is characterized by the increased risk of tumor metastasis, accelerated growth of pre-existing micrometastasis and cancer recurrence. Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) and regional anesthesia have been proposed to improve long-term outcomes after cancer surgery by different mechanisms, including attenuation of the neuroendocrine response, immunosuppression, decreased opioid requirements (opioids promote angiogenesis and tumor growth) and avoidance of volatile inhalational agents. Much of the data that support these ideas originate from laboratory studies, while there is no clear consensus from the retrospective cohort studies to date. Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are in progress and may provide a better understanding regarding the role of the anesthesiologist in cancer surgery. The purpose of this review is to summarize the experimental and human data regarding the effect of anesthesia agents and anesthesia techniques on cancer outcomes.

Effect of different anaesthesia methods on perioperative cellular immune function and long-term outcome in patients undergoing radical resection of esophageal cancer: a prospective cohort study

To analyze the effects of different anaesthetic methods on perioperative cellular immunity and long-term outcome in patients who undergo esophageal cancer surgery.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 120 patients with esophageal cancer admitted to Zhengzhou University People's Hospital from January 2016 to January 2017 were recruited and randomly divided into a GA group (general anaesthesia, n = 40), a PG group (paravertebral nerve block with general anaesthesia, n = 40) and an EG group (epidural anaesthesia with general anaesthesia, n = 40).

METHODS

Self-rating anxiety scale and visual analogue scale scores were adopted to compare postoperative anxiety and the degree of pain of patients in the three groups. In addition, the adverse reactions of patients in the three groups were compared. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-4, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and the survival of T-cell subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+) before operation, at the end of operation, and on postoperative day (POD) 1 and POD 2 were measured by either ELISA or flow cytometry.

RESULTS

In the PG and EG group, the VAS scores were lower, and fewer opioids and vasoactive agents were used than in the GA group. In both the EG and PG groups, higher CD3+ and CD4+ cell survival and lower levels of Cor, IL-4, and IL-6 were identified at the end of or after the surgery than in the GA group. Moreover, the postoperative survival curves of the PG and EG groups were better than that of the GA group.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of paravertebral nerve block or epidural anaesthesia and general anaesthesia may improve perioperative immune function and long-term outcome in patients who undergo esophageal cancer surgery.

Peridural Anesthesia and Cancer-Related Survival after Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer-A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: In patients with prostatic and breast cancer the application of peridural anesthesia (PDA) showed a beneficial effect on prognosis. This was explained by reduced requirements for general anesthetics and perioperative opioids as well as a lower perioperative stress level. The impact of PDA in patients with more aggressive types of cancer has not been completely elucidated. Here, we analyzed the prognostic influence of PDA on overall survival after surgery as primary in patients that underwent radical resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Methods: Records of 98 consecutive patients were reviewed. In 70 of these cases PDA was applied. Patient characteristics such as demographics, TNM stage, and operative data were retrospectively collected from medical records and analyzed. Survival data were analyzed by Cox’s proportional hazard regression model. Results: Overall, no significant prognostic influence of PDA on recurrence or overall survival (p = 0.762, Hazard Ratio [HR] 0.884, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.398–1.961) was found. However, there was a trend towards a longer overall survival (p = 0.069, HR 0.394, 95% CI 0.144–1.078) associated with PDA in a subgroup of patients with better differentiation of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Conclusion: The observation of longer survival associated with PDA in our subgroup of patients with better-differentiated pancreatic carcinomas is in line with previous reports on various other less aggressive tumor entities. Our results indicate that PDA might improve the oncological outcome of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Safety and Efficacy of Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor Comparing Spinal Anesthesia with Spinal Anesthesia with an Obturator Nerve Block: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Aims: To investigate whether spinal anesthesia with an obturator nerve block (SA+ONB) can be effectively used for transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to improve patient outcomes while also avoiding aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs). We aimed to compare outcomes of TURBTs using spinal anesthesia (SA) alone vs SA+ONB in terms of rates of obturator reflex, bladder perforation, incomplete tumor resection, tumor recurrence, and local anesthetic toxicity. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of electronic databases (MEDLINE, PUBMED, EMBASE, CINAHL, CENTRAL, SCOPUS, Google Scholar, and Web of Science), identifying studies comparing the outcomes of TURBT using SA vs spinal with an ONB. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for observational studies were used to assess the included studies. Random effects modeling was used to calculate pooled outcome data. Results: Four RCTs and three cohort studies were identified, enrolling a total of 448 patients. The use of SA+ONB was associated with a significantly reduced risk of obturator reflex (p < 0.00001), bladder perforation (p = 0.02), incomplete resection (p < 0.0001), and 12-month tumor recurrence (p = 0.005). ONB was not associated with an increased risk of local anesthetic toxicity (0/159). Conclusion: Our meta-analysis suggests that TURBT using SA+ONB is superior to the use of SA alone. During the COVID-19 pandemic, where avoidance of AGPs such as a general anesthesia is paramount, the use of an ONB with SA is essential for the safety of both patients and staff without compromising care. Further high-quality RCTs with adequate sample sizes are required to compare the different techniques of ONB as well as comparing this method with general anesthesia with complete neuromuscular blockade.

Trends in epidural anesthesia use at the time of radical cystectomy and its association with perioperative and survival outcomes: a population-based analysis

Epidural anesthesia is used to improve pain control after major surgeries. Few data describe the impact of epidural use for bladder cancer patients treated with radical cystectomy (RC). Here, we evaluate epidural use on perioperative and long-term outcomes for patients treated with radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. Patients who received radical cystectomy for non-metastatic bladder urothelial carcinoma with epidural (n=1,748) and without epidural (n=6,109) anesthesia from 2002-2014 were identified using Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare data. Radical cystectomy outcomes with and without epidural anesthesia were compared using propensity score weighting. Epidural use at time of radical cystectomy was identified in 1,748 (22.2%) of 7,857 patients who met inclusion criteria. After propensity score weighted adjustment, epidural use was associated with increased 30-day readmission (29.6% vs. 26.2%, P<0.001), increased median length of stay in days (9.0, IQR 7.0-12.0 vs 8.0, IQR 6.0-12.0, P<0.01), and decreased likelihood of being discharged directly to home without need for home health or skilled nursing care (21.6% vs 29.1%, P<0.001). Post-operative MI (2.6% vs 1.3%, P<0.001) in the first 30 days after radical cystectomy was more common in the epidural group, but perioperative 30-day mortality was similar (3.3% vs 2.9%, P=0.21). Epidural use was not associated with increased cancer specific (HR 0.96, 0.90-1.02, P=0.20) or overall survival (HR 0.99, 0.95-1.04, P=0.73). Epidural use at time of radical cystectomy is associated with increased risk of perioperative complications, hospital readmission, and longer hospitalization without improving disease specific survival. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Anesthetic considerations for urologic surgeries

Urologic surgeries are widely performed, and the cases have increased owing to the fact that the elderly population is growing. The narrow and limited surgical space is a challenge in performing most urologic surgeries. Additionally, the elderly population is exposed to the risk of perioperative complications; therefore, a comprehensive understanding and approach are required to provide optimized anesthesia during surgery. We have searched the literature on anesthesia for urologic surgeries and summarized the anesthetic considerations for urologic surgeries.

Impact of general anaesthesia in overall and disease-free survival compared to other types of anaesthesia in patients undergoing surgery for cutaneous melanoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

INTRODUCTION

Cutaneous melanoma is an aggressive type of skin cancer. Anaesthetic agents may have an impact on the immune response, postoperative neurohumoral response and tumour progression. This systematic review aims to evaluate the impact of general anaesthesia on overall and disease-free survival compared with other types anaesthesia in patients undergoing surgery for cutaneous melanoma.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The review will analyse data from controlled and observational studies of patients undergoing surgery for melanoma under general anaesthesia compared with other types of anaesthesia. The primary outcomes are overall survival and disease-free survival. The secondary outcomes are health-related quality of life, time to tumour progression, distant disease-free survival, time to treatment failure, cancer-specific survival, biochemical recurrence, return of intended oncological therapy, days alive and out of the hospital at 90 days, cost analysis and adverse events. A comprehensive literature search will be performed using the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science, LILACS and IBECS databases. Grey literature will also be searched. Risk of methodological bias will be assessed using The Cochrane Collaboration's revised tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials (RoB 2.0) and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Two reviewers will independently assess the eligibility of studies and risk of bias; a third author will solve discrepancies. One author will perform data extraction and the other will check the process and data. Qualitative analysis will be carried out using all included studies. A meta-analysis using a random-effects model for pooled risk estimates will be carried out for the two main outcomes and for selected secondary outcomes if they conform to previously stated criteria. The GRADE approach will be used to summarise the quality of evidence.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval is not required as we analyse data from previously reported studies.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42018114918.

Emerging effect of anesthesia on post-operative tumor recurrence and metastasis

Post-operative recurrence and metastasis of malignant tumors are difficult to control, which probably results from multiple factors that affect the prognosis and the undefined mechanism. Anesthesia may be an influential factor. Researchers have performed many meaningful studies on the relationship between anesthetic drugs/methods and tumor growth/immune function, which provide important references for the anesthetic selection and peri-operative management of tumor patients. Anesthetics, analgesics, and sedatives should be used with caution because their effects in post-operative patients remain controversial. This review summarizes the emerging progress on the effect of anesthesia on post-operative tumor recurrence and metastasis, particularly focusing on the effects of anesthetic drugs, anesthetic methods, and post-operative analgesia on tumor growth and metastasis. Future studies should provide strict criteria for the proper use of anesthetics in patients with malignant tumors and provide experimental evidence for the improvement and development of novel anesthetics and anesthetic methods that have the important clinical significance.

Anesthetic technique and cancer recurrence in oncologic surgery: unraveling the puzzle

Surgery/anesthetic technique-stimulated immunosuppression in the perioperative period might cause an increase in cancer-related mortality. Whether anesthetic technique can affect the outcomes of cancer patients remains inconclusive. This review discusses data from the available literature on anesthetic techniques applied in oncologic surgery, the long-term outcomes of anesthetic technique, and their relation to survival and cancer recurrence. Searches of the PubMed database up to June 30, 2016, were conducted to identify publications with the terms "anesthetic technique and cancer recurrence," "regional anesthesia and cancer recurrence," "local anesthesia and cancer recurrence," "anesthetic technique and immunosuppression," and "anesthetic technique and oncologic surgery." Surgery/anesthesia-stimulated activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) provides immunosuppression through several soluble factors. Volatile anesthetics and opioids suppress cell-mediated immunity (CMI) and promote the proliferation of cancer cells and angiogenesis, whereas propofol does not suppress CMI and inhibits tumor angiogenesis. Regional anesthesia (RA) protects CMI and diminishes the surgical neuroendocrine stress response by blocking afferent neural transmission that stimulates the HPA axis and SNS, decreasing the requirement for opioids and volatile anesthetics and thereby decreasing cancer recurrence. Preclinical and retrospective studies highlight a potential benefit of anesthetic technique in reducing cancer-related mortality and recurrence by attenuating immunosuppression following surgical treatment in patients with specific types of cancer. Several well-planned, prospective, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are underway that may provide more conclusive and definitive results regarding the benefits of anesthetic technique on survival in oncologic surgery.