Inhalational Anesthetic Agents and Their Effects on Cancer Cell Biology

The impact of anaesthetic technique upon outcome in oncological surgery

“…IGF is similarly overexpressed by solid tumours and results in cell proliferation and suppression of apoptosis (programmed cell death) and has been shown to be stimulated by inhalational agents. 4 Surgery commonly leads to a reduction in circulating natural killer (NK) cells, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and in the ratio of T-helper1 to T-helper2 (Th1:Th2) cells. CTLs can directly eliminate tumour cells and Th1 cells (which produce interferon gamma and tumour necrosis factor-a) are responsible for activating and inducing CTL production.…”

Cancer recurrence: is anesthesia truly guilty?

“…2 Elevadas taxas séricas desses fatores estão associadas a mais agressividade tumoral e a pior desfecho clínico. 46 Alguns autores acreditam que o uso de agentes inalatórios aumenta a expressão dos HIFs, influenciado a angiogênese, a proliferação e o crescimento tumoral 47 , sendo essas ações correlacionadas com o tempo de administração e a dose total do anestésico utilizada. 45 Agente inalatório menos potente, o óxido nitroso inibe o metabolismo do ácido fólico e da vitamina B12, o que impacta na síntese do DNA e na geração de novas células, podendo causar imunossupressão.…”

Paravertebral Blocks: Anatomical, Practical, and Future Concepts

“…As well as favorable acute pain outcomes, evidence is beginning to emerge regarding the benefits of the TPVB and long-term chronic pain [7] and the ability to utilize the technique in order to avoid general anesthesia [8]. Furthermore, the role that anesthesia, particularly volatiles and opioids, plays in cancer cell biology and ultimately tumour metastases and recurrence has begun to be evaluated [9][10][11]. Therefore, the role of local and regional anesthetic techniques might become more important as further evidence emerges.…”