An evaluation of perioperative therapies re-purposed for oncoanaesthesia to improve cancer outcomes

Recurrence of cancer following surgery accounts for 90% of cancer deaths. Surgical resection is potentially curative; however, excessive perioperative adrenergic-inflammatory response renders patients vulnerable to cancer recurrence. This research evaluated three therapies re-purposed for use during cancer resection surgery to reduce this vulnerability, specifically: spinal anaesthesia reduces perioperative lymphatic flow; the beta-adrenergic inhibitor propranolol reduces the breast cancer invasion; and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents have a limited role in reducing perioperative prostaglandin production. These findings inform future oncoanaesthesia research, and the structure of clinical trials that will optimise anaesthesia care for patients undergoing cancer surgery.