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BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

The effect of propofol and sevoflurane on cancer cell, natural killer cell, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte function in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery: an in vitro analysis

Authors: Jeong-Ae Lim, Chung-Sik Oh, Tae-Gyoon Yoon, Ji Yeon Lee, Seung-Hyun Lee, Young-Bum Yoo, Jung-Hyun Yang, Seong-Hyop Kim

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

To clarify the effect of anaesthetic agents on cancer immunity, we evaluated the effects of propofol and sevoflurane on natural killer (NK) cell, cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) counts and apoptosis rate in breast cancer and immune cells co-cultures from patients who underwent breast cancer surgery.

Methods

Venous blood samples were collected after inducing anaesthesia and at 1 and 24 h postoperatively in patients who had undergone breast cancer surgery. The patients were allocated randomly to the propofol- or sevoflurane-based anaesthesia groups. We counted and detected apoptosis in cancer cell, NK cell and CTL of patients with breast cancer by co-culture with a breast cancer cell line in both groups. We also evaluated changes in the cytokines tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 during the perioperative period.

Results

Forty-four patients were included in the final analysis. No difference in NK cell count, CTL count or apoptosis rate was detected between the groups. Furthermore, the number of breast cancer cells undergoing apoptosis in the breast cancer cell co-cultures was not different between the groups. No changes in cytokines were detected between the groups.

Conclusion

Although basic science studies have suggested the potential benefits of propofol over a volatile agent during cancer surgery, propofol was not superior to sevoflurane, on the aspects of NK and CTL cells counts with apoptosis rate including breast cancer cell, during anaesthesia for breast cancer surgery in a clinical environment.

Trial registration

NCT02758249 on February 26, 2016.
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Metadata
Title
The effect of propofol and sevoflurane on cancer cell, natural killer cell, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte function in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery: an in vitro analysis
Authors
Jeong-Ae Lim
Chung-Sik Oh
Tae-Gyoon Yoon
Ji Yeon Lee
Seung-Hyun Lee
Young-Bum Yoo
Jung-Hyun Yang
Seong-Hyop Kim
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-018-4064-8

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