Are we causing the recurrence-impact of perioperative period on long-term cancer prognosis: Review of current evidence and practice

Immune Responses of Healthy Pregnant Women following an Elective Cesarean Section: Effects of Anesthetic Procedures

A weakened immune system and more inflammatory cytokines being released are possible effects of the surgical stress that a cesarean section induces. This kind of reaction, in addition to the altered reaction to catecholamines, has the potential to significantly affect the immune system of the mother and the patients' general postoperative course. This prospective study compared the plasma levels of catecholamines and cytokines in healthy pregnant patients having cesarean sections under spinal anesthesia versus general anesthesia. A total of 30 pregnant women undergoing elective cesarean sections were divided into two groups: 15 who received general anesthesia (GA) and 15 who received spinal anesthesia (SA). Blood samples were collected from all subjects before anesthesia induction (pre-OP), 6 h postoperatively (6 h post-OP), and 12 h (12 h post-OP), to measure levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-4, IL-10, norepinephrine (NE), and epinephrine (EPI). When we compared the two groups, we discovered that only IL-6 and IL-4 had significantly higher levels pre-OP, whereas all studied cytokines exhibited an increase in the GA versus SA group at 6 and 12 h post-OP. In the case of catecholamines, we discovered that serum levels are positively related with pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokines, depending on the time of day and type of anesthetic drugs. Compared to SA, GA has a more consistent effect on the inflammatory response and catecholamine levels. The findings of this study confirm that the type of anesthesia can alter postoperative immunomodulation to various degrees via changes in cytokine and catecholamine production. SA could be a preferable choice for cesarean section because it is an anesthetic method that reduces perioperative stress and allows for less opioid administration, impacting cytokine production with proper immunomodulation.

The Immunomodulatory Effect of Various Anaesthetic Practices in Patients Undergoing Gastric or Colon Cancer Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

BACKGROUND

Gastric and colorectal carcinomas are associated with increased mortality and an increasing incidence worldwide, while surgical resection remains the primary approach for managing these conditions. Emerging evidence suggests that the immunosuppression induced by the chosen anaesthesia approach, during the perioperative period, can have a significant impact on the immune system and consequently the prognosis of these patients.

AIM

This systematic review aims to comprehensively summarize the existing literature on the effects of different anaesthesia techniques on immune system responses, focusing on cellular immunity in patients undergoing the surgical removal of gastric or colorectal carcinomas. There is no meta-analysis investigating anaesthesia's impact on immune responses in gastric and colorectal cancer surgery. Anaesthesia is a key perioperative factor, yet its significance in this area has not been thoroughly investigated. The clinical question of how the anaesthetic technique choice affects the immune system and prognosis remains unresolved.

METHODS

Major electronic databases were searched up to February 2023 to May 2023 for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The study protocol has been registered with Prospero (CRD42023441383).

RESULTS

Six RCTs met the selection criteria. Among these, three RCTs investigated the effects of volatile-based anaesthesia versus total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA), while the other three RCTs compared general anaesthesia alone to the combination of general anaesthesia with epidural anaesthesia. According to our analysis, there were no significant differences between TIVA and volatile-based anaesthesia, in terms of primary and secondary endpoints. The combination of general anaesthesia with epidural analgesia had a positive impact on NK cell counts (SMD 0.61, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.94, I2 0.0% at 24 and 72 h after the operation), as well as on CD4+ cells (SMD 0.59, CI 95% 0.26 to 0.93, I2 0.0%). However, the CD3+ cell count, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), IL-6 and TNF-α levels remained unaffected.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of epidural analgesia and general anaesthesia can potentially improve, postoperatively, the NK cell count and CD4+ cell levels in gastric or colon surgery patients. However, the specific impact of TIVA or volatile-based anaesthesia remains uncertain. To gain a better understanding of the immunomodulatory effects of anaesthesia, in this particular group of cancer patients, further well-designed trials are required.

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.

Systemic immune effects of anesthetics and their intracellular targets in tumors

According to the result released by the World Health Organization (WHO), non-communicable diseases have occupied four of the top 10 current causes for death in the world. Cancer is one of the significant factors that trigger complications and deaths; more than 80% cancer patients require surgical or palliative treatment. In this case, anesthetic treatment is indispensable. Since cancer is a heterogeneous disease, various types of interventions can activate oncogenes or mutate tumor suppressor genes. More and more researchers believe that anesthetics have a certain effect on the long-term recurrence and metastasis of tumors, but it is still controversial whether they promote or inhibit the progression of cancer. On this basis, a series of retrospective or prospective randomized clinical trials have been conducted, but it seems to be difficult to reach a conclusion within 5 years or longer. This article focuses on the effects of anesthetic drugs on immune function and cancer and reviews their latest targets on the tumor cells, in order to provide a theoretical basis for optimizing the selection of anesthetic drugs, exploring therapeutic targets, and improving the prognosis of cancer patients.

Less Well-Known Consequences of the Long-Term Use of Opioid Analgesics: A Comprehensive Literature Review

BACKGROUND

The adverse effects of short-term opioid analgesics are well known and acknowledged; however, the spectrum of the sequelae of long-term use seems less clear. Some effects may remain undetected but still have the potential to cause harm and reduce patients' quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

To review the literature on the adverse effects of long-term opioid therapy.

METHODS

We performed a quasi-systematic search, analyzing articles published in the MEDLINE database between January 2000 and March 2021 that identified adverse effects of opioids used for chronic pain treatment.

RESULTS

Growing evidence indicates that there are multiple serious adverse effects of opioid treatment. Long-term opioid use may have significant effects on the endocrine, immune, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neural systems. Studies show that long-term opioid treatment increases the risk of fractures, infections, cardiovascular complications, sleep-disordered breathing, bowel dysfunction, overdose, and mortality. Opioids may potentially affect cancer development. Most consequences of the long-term use of opioids have been identified in studies of patients with non-malignant pain.

CONCLUSION

Studies indicate that long-term use of opioids increases the risk of drug-related events in a significant number of patients. Clinicians should be aware of these complications associated with prescribing opioids, discuss them with patients, prevent complications, if possible, and diagnose them early and manage adequately. More human studies are needed to assess the risk, including trials with individual opioids, because they have different adverse effect profiles.

Current Status and Prospects of Anesthesia and Breast Cancer: Does Anesthetic Technique Affect Recurrence and Survival Rates in Breast Cancer Surgery?

The relationship between the anesthetic technique and cancer recurrence has not yet been clarified in cancer surgery. Surgical stress and inhalation anesthesia suppress cell-mediated immunity (CMI), whereas intravenous (IV) anesthesia with propofol and regional anesthesia (RA) are known to be protective for CMI. Surgical stress, general anesthesia (GA) with inhalation anesthesia and opioids contribute to perioperative immunosuppression and may increase cancer recurrence and decrease survival. Surgical stress and GA activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and release neuroendocrine mediators such as cortisol, catecholamines, and prostaglandin E₂, which may reduce host defense immunity and promote distant metastasis. On the other hand, IV anesthesia with propofol and RA with paravertebral block or epidural anesthesia can weaken surgical stress and GA-induced immunosuppression and protect the host defense immunity. IV anesthesia with propofol and RA or in combination with GA may reduce cancer recurrence and improve patient survival compared to GA alone. We review the current status of the relationship between anesthesia and breast cancer recurrence using retrospective and prospective studies conducted with animal models and clinical samples, and discuss the future prospects for reducing breast cancer recurrence and improving survival rates in breast cancer surgery.

Effects of Perioperative Epidural Analgesia on Cancer Recurrence and Survival

Surgical resection is the main curative avenue for various cancers. Unfortunately, cancer recurrence following surgery is commonly seen, and typically results in refractory disease and death. Currently, there is no consensus whether perioperative epidural analgesia (EA), including intraoperative and postoperative epidural analgesia, is beneficial or harmful on cancer recurrence and survival. Although controversial, mounting evidence from both clinical and animal studies have reported perioperative EA can improve cancer recurrence and survival via many aspects, including modulating the immune/inflammation response and reducing the use of anesthetic agents like inhalation anesthetics and opioids, which are independent risk factors for cancer recurrence. However, these results depend on the cancer types, cancer staging, patients age, opioids use, and the duration of follow-up. This review will summarize the effects of perioperative EA on the oncological outcomes of patients after cancer surgery.

Regional anesthesia prevents cancer recurrence after oncosurgery! What is wrong with the hypothesis?

Several studies have investigated the hypothesis of the efficacy of regional anesthesia (RA) techniques in preventing cancer recurrence when used perioperatively during oncological surgeries. Although theoretically, the association appears beneficial, the patient outcomes after cancer surgeries with or without RA were comparable, that is, the use of RA did not improve patient survival or prevent cancer recurrence after surgery. Another problem with this data is its retrospective nature which makes its interpretation difficult. Moreover, there are a lot of other confounding factors like comorbidities, tumor biology, nosocomial infections, duration of hospital stay, and baseline immunity, which is not comparable, and hence make standardization for a well-designed prospective study difficult. Return to intended oncologic therapy (RIOT) involves treatment in the form of radiation or chemotherapy which, if received on time after the planned oncosurgery, could provide a better chance of preventing cancer recurrence and improved survival. However, none of the retrospective studies have correlated cancer recurrence with delay in RIOT or not receiving RIOT as a cause of cancer recurrence. This paper discusses why even a well-designed, prospective trial could possibly never establish the efficacy of RA in preventing cancer recurrence and improving survival due to the complexities involved in a patient undergoing oncosurgery.

Anesthetics or anesthetic techniques and cancer surgical outcomes: a possible link

As of 2018 cancer is responsible for almost 9.6 million deaths annually and, with an aging population, the incidence of cancer is expected to continue to rise. Surgery is an important treatment modality for patients with solid organ cancers. It has been postulated that, due to potentially overlapping processes underlying the development of malignancy and the therapeutic pathways of various anesthetic agents, the choice of anesthetic type and method of administration may affect post-operative outcomes in patients with cancer. This is a literature review of the most recent evidence extracted from various databases including PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane, as well as journals and book reference lists. The review highlights the pathophysiological processes underpinning cancer development and the molecular actions of anesthetic agents, pre-clinical and retrospective studies investigating cancer and anesthetics, as well as ongoing clinical trials. Overall, there are conflicting results regarding the impact of regional vs. general anesthesia on cancer recurrence, whilst the majority of data suggest a benefit of the use of intravenous propofol over inhalational volatile anesthetics. The biological changes associated with the surgical inflammatory response offer a unique opportunity to intervene to counteract any potentially cancer-promoting effects.

Dexmedetomidine in cancer surgeries: Present status and consequences with its use

Dexmedetomidine is a centrally acting α2 adrenoreceptor agonist used in perioperative medicine due to its sedative, analgesic and sympatholytic properties. Recently animal data has pointed towards potential role of dexmedetomidine in promoting cancer recurrence and metastasis when used perioperatively especially after breast surgeries. This is because of presence of α2 adrenoreceptors in breast cancer tissue. We reviewed existing literature in which dexmedetomidine was used in cancer surgeries and investigated its role in recurrence and metastasis.

Anesthetic Strategies in Oncological Surgery: Not Only a Simple Sleep, but Also Impact on Immunosuppression and Cancer Recurrence

Tumor recurrences or metastases remain a major hurdle in improving overall cancer survival. In the perioperative period, the balance between the ability of the cancer to seed and grow at the metastatic site and the ability of the patient to fight against the tumor (i.e. the host antitumor immunity) may determine the development of clinically evident metastases and influence the patient outcome. Up to 80% of oncological patients receive anesthesia and/or analgesia for diagnostic, therapeutic or palliative interventions. Therefore, anesthesiologists are asked to administer drugs such as opiates and volatile or intravenous anesthetics, which may determine different effects on immunomodulation and cancer recurrence. For instance, some studies suggest that intravenous drugs, such as propofol, may inhibit the host immunity to a lower extent as compared to volatile anesthetics. Similarly, some studies suggest that analgesia assured by local anesthetics may provide a reduction of cancer recurrence rate; whilst on the opposite side, opioids may exert negative consequences in patients undergoing cancer surgery, by interacting with the immune system response via the modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and autonomic nervous system, or directly through the opioid receptors on the surface of immune cells. In this review, we summarize the main findings on the effects induced by different drugs on immunomodulation and cancer recurrence.

Do All Opioid Drugs Share the Same Immunomodulatory Properties? A Review From Animal and Human Studies

Suppression of the immune system has been constantly reported in the last years as a classical side effect of opioid drugs. Most of the studies on the immunological properties of opioids refer to morphine. Although morphine remains the "reference molecule," other semisynthetic and synthetic opioids are frequently used in the clinical practice. The primary objective of this review is to analyze the available literature on the immunomodulating properties of opioid drugs different from morphine in preclinical models and in the human. A search strategy was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane databases using the terms "immunosuppression," "immune system," "opioids," "Natural killer cells," "cytokines," and "lymphocytes." The results achieved concerning the effects of fentanyl, methadone, oxycodone, buprenorphine, remifentanil, tramadol, and tapentadol on immune responses in animal studies, in healthy volunteers and in patients are reported. With some limitations due to the different methods used to measure immune system parameters, the large range of opioid doses and the relatively scarce number of participants in the available studies, we conclude that it is not correct to generalize immunosuppression as a common side effect of all opioid molecules.

Opioid free onco-anesthesia: Is it time to convict opioids? A systematic review of literature

The epidemic of opioid crisis started getting recognised as a public health emergency in view of increasing opioid-related deaths occurring due to undetected respiratory depression. Prescribing opioids at discharge has become an independent risk factor for chronic opioid use, following which, prescription practices have undergone a radical change. A call to action has been voiced recently to end the opioid epidemic although with the pain practitioners still struggling to make opioids readily available. American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) has called for reducing patient exposure to opioids in the surgical setting. Opioid sparing strategies have emerged embracing loco-regional techniques and non-opioid based multimodal pain management whereas opioid free anesthesia is the combination of various opioid sparing strategies culminating in complete elimination of opioid usage. The movement away from opioid usage perioperatively is a massive but necessary shift in anesthesia which has rationalised perioperative opioid usage. Ideal way moving forward would be to adapt selective low opioid effective dosing which is both procedure and patient specific while reserving it as rescue analgesia, postoperatively. Many unknowns persist in the domain of immunologic effects of opioids, as complex interplay of factors gets associated during real time surgery towards outcome. At present it would be too premature to conclude upon opioid-induced immunosuppression from the existing evidence. Till evidence is established, there are no recommendations to change current clinical practice. At the same time, consideration for multimodal opioid sparing strategies should be initiated in each patient undergoing surgery.

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.

Outcomes of pancreatic adenocarcinoma that was not resected because of isolated para-aortic lymph node involvement

PURPOSE

Survival appears to be poor in cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with para-aortic lymph node involvement (PALN+). However, resection is still performed in these cases because the prognostic impact of PALN+remains controversial.

METHODS

PALN+was intraoperatively found in 14 patients (4.8%) with resectable PDAC who consequently did not undergo pancreatectomy.

RESULTS

The median overall survival time after laparotomy was 21 months. The 1- and 3-year overall survival rates were 58.3% and 25%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We support the advisability of reconsidering pancreatectomy in patients with intraoperatively detected PALN+because the reported survival of such patients who undergo pancreatectomy is poorer than the survival observed for patients in our series.

Immune function after major surgical interventions: the effect of postoperative pain treatment

INTRODUCTION

Impaired immune function during the perioperative period may be associated with worse short- and long-term outcomes. Morphine is considered a major contributor to immune modulation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a pilot study to investigate postoperative immune function by analyzing peripheral blood mononuclear cells' functionality and cytokine production in 16 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. All patients were treated with intravenous (i.v.) patient-controlled analgesia with morphine and continuous wound infusion with ropivacaine+methylprednisolone for 24 hours. After 24 hours, patients were randomized into two groups, one continuing intrawound infusion and the other receiving only i.v. analgesia. We evaluated lymphoproliferation and cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells at the end of surgery and at 24 and 48 hours postoperatively.

RESULTS

A significant reduction in TNF-α, IL-2, IFN-γ and lymphoproliferation was observed immediately after surgery, indicating impaired cell-mediated immunity. TNF-α and IFN-γ remained suppressed up to 48 hours after surgery, while a trend to normalization was observed for IL-2 and lymphoproliferation, irrespective of the treatment group. A significant inverse correlation was present between age and morphine and between age and lymphoproliferation. No negative correlation was present between morphine and cytokine production. We did not find any differences within the two groups between 24 and 48 hours in terms of morphine consumption and immune responses.

CONCLUSION

A relevant depression of cell-mediated immunity is associated with major surgery and persists despite optimal analgesia. Even though morphine may participate in immunosuppression, we did not retrieve any dose-related effect.

Effects of surgery and anesthetic choice on immunosuppression and cancer recurrence

Background

The relationship between surgery and anesthetic-induced immunosuppression and cancer recurrence remains unresolved. Surgery and anesthesia stimulate the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to cause immunosuppression through several tumor-derived soluble factors. The potential impact of surgery and anesthesia on cancer recurrence was reviewed to provide guidance for cancer surgical treatment.

Methods

PubMed was searched up to December 31, 2016 using search terms such as, “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.”

Results

Surgery-induced stress responses and surgical manipulation enhance tumor metastasis via release of angiogenic factors and suppression of natural killer (NK) cells and cell-mediated immunity. Intravenous agents such as ketamine and thiopental suppress NK cell activity, whereas propofol does not. Ketamine induces T-lymphocyte apoptosis but midazolam does not affect cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. Volatile anesthetics suppress NK cell activity, induce T-lymphocyte apoptosis, and enhance angiogenesis through hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) activity. Opioids suppress NK cell activity and increase regulatory T cells.

Conclusion

Local anesthetics such as lidocaine increase NK cell activity. Anesthetics such as propofol and locoregional anesthesia, which decrease surgery-induced neuroendocrine responses through HPA-axis and SNS suppression, may cause less immunosuppression and recurrence of certain types of cancer compared to volatile anesthetics and opioids.

Surgical stress response and promotion of metastasis in colorectal cancer: a complex and heterogeneous process

Surgery remains the curative treatment modality for colorectal cancer in all stages, including stage IV with resectable liver metastasis. There is emerging evidence that the stress response caused by surgery as well as other perioperative therapies such as anesthesia and analgesia may promote growth of pre-existing micro-metastasis or potentially initiate tumor dissemination. Therapeutically targeting the perioperative period may therefore reduce the effect that surgical treatments have in promoting metastases, for example by combining β-adrenergic receptor antagonists and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors in the perioperative setting. In this paper, we highlight some of the mechanisms that may underlie surgery-related metastatic development in colorectal cancer. These include direct tumor spillage at the time of surgery, suppression of the anti-tumor immune response, direct stimulatory effects on tumor cells, and activation of the coagulation system. We summarize in more detail results that support a role for catecholamines as major drivers of the pro-metastatic effect induced by the surgical stress response, predominantly through activation of β-adrenergic signaling. Additionally, we argue that an improved understanding of surgical stress-induced dissemination, and more specifically whether it impacts on the level and nature of heterogeneity within residual tumor cells, would contribute to the successful clinical targeting of this process. Finally, we provide a proof-of-concept demonstration that ex-vivo analyses of colorectal cancer patient-derived samples using RGB-labeling technology can provide important insights into the heterogeneous sensitivity of tumor cells to stress signals. This suggests that intra-tumor heterogeneity is likely to influence the efficacy of perioperative β-adrenergic receptor and COX-2 inhibition, and that ex-vivo characterization of heterogeneous stress response in tumor samples can synergize with other models to optimize perioperative treatments and further improve outcome in colorectal and other solid cancers.

Dexmedetomidine promotes metastasis in rodent models of breast, lung, and colon cancers

BACKGROUND

Perioperative strategies can significantly influence long-term cancer outcomes. Dexmedetomidine, an α₂-adrenoceptor agonist, is increasingly used perioperatively for its sedative, analgesic, anxiolytic, and sympatholytic effects. Such actions might attenuate the perioperative promotion of metastases, but other findings suggest opposite effects on primary tumour progression. We tested the effects of dexmedetomidine in clinically relevant models of dexmedetomidine use on cancer metastatic progression.

METHODS

Dexmedetomidine was given to induce sub-hypnotic to sedative effects for 6-12 h, and its effects on metastasis formation, using various cancer types, were studied in naïve animals and in the context of stress and surgery.

RESULTS

Dexmedetomidine increased tumour-cell retention and growth of metastases of a mammary adenocarcinoma (MADB 106) in F344 rats, Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL) in C57BL/6 mice, and colon adenocarcinoma (CT26) in BALB/c mice. The metastatic burden increased in both sexes and in all organs tested, including lung, liver, and kidney, as well as in brain employing a novel external carotid-artery inoculation approach. These effects were mediated through α₂-adrenergic, but not α₁-adrenergic, receptors. Low sub-hypnotic doses of dexmedetomidine were moderately beneficial in attenuating the deleterious effects of one stress paradigm, but not of the surgery or other stressors.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings call for mechanistic translational studies to understand these deleterious effects of dexmedetomidine, and warrant prospective clinical trials to assess the impact of perioperative dexmedetomidine use on outcomes in cancer patients.

The effect of perioperative analgesic drugs omnopon and dexketoprofen on the functional activity of immune cells in murine model of tumor surgery

We aimed to investigate the effect of perioperative analgesia with nonselective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor dexketoprofen and opioid drug omnopon on the functional activity of immune cells in tumor excision murine model. Lewis lung carcinoma cells were transplanted into hind paw of C57/black mice. On the 23th day tumor was removed. Analgesic drugs were injected 30 min before and once a day for 3 days after the surgery. Biological material was obtained a day before, 1 day and 3 days after the tumor removal. IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β mRNA levels in splenic cells were assessed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Cytotoxic activity of splenocytes was estimated by flow cytometry. We found that in splenocytes of mice received opioid analgesia IL-10 mRNA level was increased 2.3 times on day one after the surgery compared to preoperative level (P < 0.05), while in dexketoprofen group this parameter did not change. IFN-γ gene expression level on day 3 after tumor removal was 40% higher in splenocytes of dexketoprofen treated mice as compared with omnopon treated animals (P < 0.05). Cytotoxic activity of splenocytes on day 3 postsurgery was (62.2 ± 2.4)% in dexketoprofen against (50.2 ± 3.3)% in omnopon group. In conclusion, perioperative analgesia with cyclooxygenase inhibitor dexketoprofen in contrast to opioid analgesia with omnopon preserves higher functional activity of murine immune cells in the experimental model of tumor surgery.

Effects of preemptive analgesia with parecoxib sodium on haemodynamics and plasma stress hormones in surgical patients with thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND

To investigate the effects of preemptive analgesia with parecoxib sodium on haemodynamics and plasma stress hormones in surgical patients with thyroid carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-seven patients with thyroid carcinoma who underwent thyroidectomy selectively in Laiwu Hospital Affiliated to Taishan Medical University and Binzhou People's Hospital were selected and randomly divided into three groups, 19 cases in each group. The control group was intravenously injected 0.9% sodium chloride injection before anesthesia induction; trial group I was intravenously injected with parecoxib sodium 20 min before anesthesia induction; based on trial group I, trial group II was injected with parecoxib sodium again 12 h after surgery. The levels of plasma norepinephrine (NE), cortisol (Cor) and blood glucose before, 12 and 24 h after surgery and changes of haemodynamics before surgery, at the end of surgery and 12, 24 and 48 h after surgery were compared in the three groups. Besides, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were recorded 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after surgery.

RESULTS

12 and 24 h after surgery, the levels of plasma NE and Cor in three groups rose dramatically (P<0.05 or (P<0.01); The levels of plasma NE and Cor in trial groups I and II were evidently lower than in control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and those in trial group II slightly lower than in trial group I. 12 h after surgery, the heart rates (HR) and systolic pressures (SBP) in trial groups I and II increased obviously by comparison to surgery before (P<0.05 or P<0.01), but gradually returned to the preoperative level. HR, SBP and diastolic pressures (DBP) in trial groups I and II at the end of surgery and 12 h after surgery were all lower than in the control group, and significant differences were present (P<0.05 or (P<0.01). At 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after surgery, VAS scores in trial groups I and II were markedly lower than in the control group ((P<0.05 or (P<0.01), the scores in trial group II being the lowest.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined application of parecoxib sodium for preemptive analgesia before anesthesia and after surgery can effectively reduce the levels of plasma stress hormones and improve analgesic effects in surgical patients with thyroid carcinoma, and without conspicuous impact on haemodynamics.

The influence of myeloid-derived suppressor cells on angiogenesis and tumor growth after cancer surgery

While myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have been reported to participate in the promotion of angiogenesis and tumor growth, little is known about their presence and function during perioperative period. Here, we demonstrated that human MDSCs expressing CD11b(+), CD33(+) and HLA-DR(-) significantly increased in lung cancer patients after thoracotomy. CD11b(+) CD33(+) HLA-DR(-) MDSCs isolated 24 hr after surgery from lung cancer patients were more efficient in promoting angiogenesis and tumor growth than MDSCs isolated before surgical operation in allograft tumor model. In addition, CD11b(+) CD33(+) HLA-DR(-) MDSCs produced high levels of MMP-9. Using an experimental lung metastasis mouse model, we demonstrated that the numbers of metastases on lung surface and Gr-1(+) CD11b(+) MDSCs at postoperative period were enhanced in proportion to the degree of surgical manipulation. We also examined that syngeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) significantly inhibited the induction and proliferation of Gr-1(+) CD11b(+) MDSCs and further prevented lung metastasis formation in the mice undergoing laparotomy. Taken together, our results suggest that postoperatively induced MDSCs were qualified with potent proangiogenic and tumor-promotive ability and this cell population should be considered as a target for preventing postoperative tumor metastasis.

Impact of anaesthetic technique on survival in colon cancer: a review of the literature

An oncological surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment for potentially curable colon cancer. At the time of surgery, a large fraction of patients do harbour—although not visibly—minimal residual disease at the time of surgery. The immunosuppression that accompanies surgery may have an effect on disease recurrence and survival. Regional or neuraxial anaesthetic techniques like epidural anaesthesia may suppress immune function less than opioid analgesia, by reducing stress response and significantly reducing exposure to opioids. Consistent with this hypothesis, regional anaesthetic techniques have been associated with lower recurrence rates in breast cancer and prostate cancer. Results for colon cancer, however, are contradictory. In this review of the literature we describe all studies addressing the association of the use of epidural anaesthesia and survival in colon cancer surgery.