MedPath

The Effects of General Anesthetics on Lymphocytes in Patients Undergoing Colorectal Cancer Resection and Mechanism Involved

Conditions
Survival Rate
Lymphocyte Destruction
Colorectal Cancer Metastatic
General Anesthetics Toxicity
Molecular Mechanism of Pharmacological Action
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT03193710
Lead Sponsor
Guizhi Du
Brief Summary

The body immunity is important to the development of tumor. The immune system is in charge of monitoring and cleaning tumor cells in circulation. Anesthesia may alter the immune response and affect the elimination of tumor cells. The purpose of the trial is to test whether inhalational anesthetic is relevant to tumor metastasis and recurrence of patients undergoing colorectal cancer resection through depression of lymphocytes-mediated immunity.

Detailed Description

With the increasing number of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer, the proportion of patients undergoing surgical resection with general anesthesia increased. However, the operation can lead tumor cells releasing into the blood or peritoneal implantation, and the impaired immune response can make patients susceptible to the development of tumor metastasis and recurrence which is the the main reason of death. It is well known that B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes are the main immune cells, and B lymphocytes by secreting antibodies are related to humoral immunity and T lymphocytes which play the most important role in antitumor are related to cell-mediated immunity. Surgery stress leads to metabolic and neuroendocrine changes causing significant depression of immunity. Although general anesthesia could reduce surgical stress, studies indicated general anesthetics including intravenous and inhalational agents both have variable effects on tumor cells growth by immuno-modulation and some cytokines. A number of studies have demonstrated deleterious effects on the function of lymphocytes associated with the administration of volatile inhalational anesthetic agents. It was suggested that the use of volatile inhalational agent may augment tumor cells growth by inhibiting the activity of lymphocytes, NK cells and dendritic cells which are important for recognizing, capturing and killing tumor cells, however, the alternative propofol has a converse (beneficial) effect by decreasing the plasma level of cytokines secreted by activated lymphocytes, macrophages and NK cells. The detailed mechanism of how volatile anesthetics affect the activity of antitumor cells remains unknown. Thus the investigators will conduct the clinical investigation to study the effect of volatile anesthetics on the immune response and metastasis in patients undergoing colorectal cancer resection, exploring molecular mechanism involved if inhalational anesthetics show an effect. The findings of this study would be valuable for anesthetic regimen guidance of colorectal cancer patients undergoing surgical resection in terms of long-term survival.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
260
Inclusion Criteria
  • All the patients diagnosed with colonal or rectal cancer
  • Aged 18-65
  • ASA I-III
  • Assigned to receive resection surgery under general anesthesia, with an expected duration of 2 hours or more
  • Agree to participate and give signed written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Severe organic heart, liver and kidney diseases
  • Diabetes or hemopoietic disorders
  • Allergy to general anesthetics
  • Family historical malignant hyperthermia
  • Cognition dysfunction
  • End-stage cancer or with over 2 cancer metastasis, pathological results were benign tumor or TNM stage was over T1- 3N0 - 2M0
  • Other primary malignant tumor
  • Immune deficiency or dysfunction or autoimmune disease or long-term usage of corticoids or immunosuppressants
  • Receiving general anesthesia within the last 3 months before the resection surgery
  • Perioperative transfusion

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Total intravenous anesthesia groupRemifentanilThe anesthesia of patients in the total intravenous anesthesia group will be maintained with propofol and remifentanil.
Total intravenous anesthesia groupPropofolThe anesthesia of patients in the total intravenous anesthesia group will be maintained with propofol and remifentanil.
Inhalational anesthesia groupSevofluraneThe anesthesia of patients in the inhalational anesthesia group will be maintained with sevoflurane and remifentanil.
Inhalational anesthesia groupRemifentanilThe anesthesia of patients in the inhalational anesthesia group will be maintained with sevoflurane and remifentanil.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from baseline lymphocytes within postoperative 5 yearsup to 5 years

Blood will be drawn preoperatively ( at least 24 hours before surgery), prior to anesthesia induction, immediately postoperatively, 24 hours postoperatively, and at postoperative appointments for testing CD4+/CD8+, B lymphocytes, dendritic cells, natural killer cells

Cancer free survival5 years or as available

Patients who remain alive without known colonal or rectal tumor recurrence

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Radiotherapy rate for any cancerup to 5 years

Patients have radiotherapy for any cancer

Cancer metastasis rateup to 5 years

Patients who remain alive with known colonal or rectal tumor metastasis

Anesthesia scheme for re-operationup to 5 years

Total intravenous anesthesia, inhalational anesthesia or combined anesthesia

Cancer recurrence rateup to 5 years

Patients who remain alive with known colonal or rectal tumor recurrence

Chemotherapy rate for any cancerup to 5 years

Patients have chemotherapy for any cancer

Colorectal cancer antibodiesup to 5 years

Blood will be drawn preoperatively (at least 24 hours before surgery), prior to anesthesia induction, immediately postoperatively, 24 hours postoperatively, and at postoperative appointments for testing CEA, CA199, GP87 and TPA.

Re-operationup to 5 years

Patients who have a surgery under general anesthesia

Circulating tumor cellsup to 5 years

Blood will be drawn preoperatively (at least 24 hours before surgery), prior to anesthesia induction, immediately postoperatively, 24 hours postoperatively, and at postoperative appointments for testing circulating tumor cells

Concentration of cytokinesup to 5 years

Blood will be drawn preoperatively (at least 24 hours before surgery), prior to anesthesia induction, immediately postoperatively, 24 hours postoperatively, and at postoperative appointments for testing IL, TNF-α, IFN-γ and GCSF

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Department of Anesthesiology

🇨🇳

Chengdu, Sichuan, China

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath