Immune impairment and metastatic tumor growth.The need for an immunorestorative drug as an adjunct to surgery

Abstract

A spontaneous murine metastatic tumor system was used as a model to assess the effects of a major surgical procedure on tumor-specific immune reactivity and the growth of micrornetastases. Any major surgical procedure resulted in impaired cell-mediated cytotoxicity postoperatively and an increase in the number of gross pulmonary metastases. The use of an immunorestorative drug, Thiabendazole, in the perioperative period resulted in an improved cytotoxic response and a significant decrease in pulmonary metastases. Perioperative immunotherapy can be an effective adjunct to surgery in preventing the growth of micrometastatic foci. Cancer 43:945-951. 1979. MAJOR OBJECTIVE of oncologists is to A integrate the strengths of the multi-modality approach to cancer to effect greater cure rates. There are several studies in the literature which clearly indicate that currently employed conventional cancer modalities are immunosuppressive.2~5~1z*16 Data in our laboratory , using murine models, indicate that certain anesthetic agents alone, and with major surgical procedures, are capable of impairing cell-mediated immunity and increasing tumor growth of artificial pulmonary metasta~es.~*~ To simulate more closely the human clinical situation, a spontaneous murine metastatic system was used in this set of experiments. Our objectives were: 1) to demonstrate the immunosuppressive effect of a major surgical procedure; 2) to determine if this produced a significant biologic consequence, i.e., an Presented at the 31st Annual Meeting

A Prospective Randomized Study of Systemic Inflammation and Immune Response After Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication Performed With Standard and Low-pressure Pneumoperitoneum

“…immunosuppression is indicated among factors responsible not only for postoperative infections but also for tumor spread and metastasis. 82 In contrast, surgery is almost always the ultimate therapeutic procedure in oncology. Therefore, it is important to avoid in these patients, often already presenting immunologic depression, all the conditions that could further reduce the p.o.…”

Does Impaired Th1/Th2 Balance Cause Postoperative Infectious Complications in Colorectal Cancer Surgery?

“…These phenomena may contribute to infectious complications and cancer metastasis after surgery [3,4]. Recently, it has become clear that an adequate host immune response against infection is largely dependent on the activation of two functionally distinct subsets of mature CD4 ϩ T-helper (Th) cells [5,6].…”

Preoperative Oral Immune-Enhancing Nutritional Supplementation Corrects Th1/Th2 Imbalance in Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery for Colorectal Cancer

“…2 This immune suppression may contribute to the infectious complications and metastasis after surgery. 3,4 In host immune responses, it has been recognized that CD4 + T helper (Th) cells play a pivotal role in cytokine synthesis. According to the profile of cytokine synthesis, CD4 + T cells are classified into Th1 and Th2 subsets.…”