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Anesthetic Techniques and Long-Term Oncological Outcomes

  • Anesthesia, Pain Management and Long-term Outcomes (VNR Gottumukkala and ER Mariano, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Cancer is a leading cause of death, accounting for nearly one in six deaths worldwide. Surgery is a critical intervention in cancer care since it provides a chance of cure or can be used to relieve symptoms in patients with advanced malignancies. Anesthesia (general, regional, or local) and analgesia in any of its delivery modes play critical roles in the treatment and palliation of cancers.

Recent Findings

Experimental data demonstrate that surgery itself and anesthetics can promote the growth of micro-metastatic diseases and the seeding of circulating cancer cells, thereby facilitating cancer progression. While this theory originates from in vitro and animal studies, evidence in humans has remained controversial until recently.

Summary

In this report, we summarize current published evidence on the impact of anesthetics and opioids on cancer progression. We focus our discussion on published human studies with special emphasis on randomized controlled trials.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Jodi-Ann Oliver, Juan P. Cata & Vijaya Gottumukkala

  2. Department of General Anesthesia, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Lori-Ann Oliver

  3. Anesthesia and Surgical Oncology Research Group, Houston, TX, USA

    Juan P. Cata

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  1. Jodi-Ann Oliver
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  2. Lori-Ann Oliver
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  3. Juan P. Cata
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  4. Vijaya Gottumukkala
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All authors contributed to the manuscript.

No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

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Correspondence to Juan P. Cata.

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Oliver, JA., Oliver, LA., Cata, J.P. et al. Anesthetic Techniques and Long-Term Oncological Outcomes. Curr Anesthesiol Rep 14, 50–56 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40140-023-00605-w

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