Cancer being the foremost cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, the ratio of its incidence is rising due to recurrence or metastasis. Although, the surgical removal of the primary tumour remains the mainstay of treatment however, metastatic recurrence is common. Perioperative factors including immunosuppression and choice of anesthetic agents have been suggested to affect cancer cell survival and metastasis. As the incidence rate of cancer continues to increase, anesthetists are facing the challenge of managing cancer patients with increasing frequency.
Recent studies suggest that a number of perioperative factors can directly affect cancer cells and also impact on cell-mediated immunity, thereby potentially promoting the development of metastasis. Cancer cells and immune system Cell-mediated immunity forms the key defence against the invasion of tumours. The major components of…
