Cancer Recurrence and Anesthetic Technique: A “Wake Up Call”

While the definitive treatment for cancer is frequently surgery, the perioperative period represents one of the greatest risk factors for tumor cell proliferation and eventual metastases [1-3]. Several studies have demonstrated that surgery stimulates neuroendocrine and cytokine stress responses, suppresses cell-mediated immunity, disperses tumor cell emboli, and promotes tumor growth and metastasis in animal models [46]. As anesthesiologists and pain specialists, we may be no less responsible for the recurrence of cancer and the long-term outcome of oncologic patients than our surgical colleagues. Several retrospective studies have recently evaluated the impact of anesthetic technique on cancer recurrence following oncologic surgery.