Effects of sevoflurane on breast cancer cell function in vitro.

UNLABELLED Some retrospective clinical studies have shown there to be an an association between the anaesthetic technique employed during breast cancer surgery and recurrence or metastases. Little is known about the direct effects of volatile anaesthetics on cancer cells. In the present study we investigated the effects of sevoflurane on estrogen receptor-positive (ER(+)) and estrogen receptor-negative (ER(-)) breast cancer cell functions that may contribute to metastatic potential. MATERIALS AND METHODS MCF7 ER(+) and MDA-MB-231 ER(-) breast cancer cells were incubated with or without sevoflurane, at concentrations of 1, 2, 3, and 4 mM for 6 h. Cell proliferation migration and invasion assays were then employed to measure for sevoflurane effects. An independent sample t-test analysis was used to compare for differences obtained between the groups. RESULTS Sevoflurane increased proliferation in MCF7 cells by 50-63% and by 50-67% in MDA-MB-231 cells (p<0.05). Sevoflurane increased migration in both breast cancer cell lines, by 30-58% in MCF7 (p=0.04) and by 30-230% in MDA-MB-231; statistically significant at 2, 3 and 4 mM (p<0.03). Increase in invasion ranged from 100-170% in MCF7, (p=0.02) and 28-72% in the MDA-MB-231 cell line, statistically significant only at the 4-mM concentration. CONCLUSION In this in vitro model of breast cancer cell function, sevoflurane increased proliferation, migration and invasion in ER-positive MCF7 cells and increased proliferation, and migration but not invasion in ER-negative cells. However, the observed effect size was small and not dose-dependent.