Impact of Anesthesia Method on Immune Response in Patients Undergoing Radical Surgery for Breast Cancer (a Meta-Analysis of Comparative Clinical Studies)

Introduction and aim. Recent evidence suggests that inhalation anesthesia (IA) is associated with higher cancer mortality than total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA), possibly due to a modulation of the immune response. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of anesthesia techniques on selected parameters of patient immunity considering the evidence of relationship between the anesthesia methods and immune status and, consequently, the incidence of cancer recurrence. Methods. We performed a meta-analysis of clinical studies published in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases, aimed at assessing the impact of anesthesia on the postoperative immune status of patients undergoing breast cancer (BC) surgery. Five randomized and three observational studies were included (a total of 637 patients, of which 320 (50.2%) in the TIVA group). Data on leukocyte counts, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 9 and 3, interleukins (IL) 6 and 10 levels, and neutrophil-lymphocyte index (NLI) values were retrieved. Results. Patients after breast cancer surgery who underwent TIVA had significantly lower white blood cell counts (standardized mean difference (SMD)=–0.32; 95% CI: –0.58 to –0.06; I2=58%, P =0.020) and MMP-9 (SMD=–0.35; 95% CI: –0.67 to –0.03; P =0.030; I2=0%) in the postoperative period compared with patients receiving IA. No significant differences in the levels of MMP-3, IL-6, IL-10, and NLI values were found between the two groups. Conclusion. The patients who underwent breast cancer surgery under TIVA had lower blood leukocyte counts and levels of MMP-9, which is involved in the remodeling of extracellular matrix, compared with those operated on under IA, suggesting that the anesthesia method may have an impact on the immunity of breast cancer patients.