Impact of Anesthesia Maintenance Methods on Long-term Survival

NCT ID: NCT02660411

Last Updated: 2022-03-04

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

1228 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2015-04-01

Study Completion Date

2020-09-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

Surgery is one of the major treatment methods for patients with malignant tumor. And, alone with the ageing process, more and more elderly patients undergo surgery for malignant tumor. Evidence emerges that choice of anesthetics, i.e., either inhalational or intravenous anesthetics, may influence the outcome of elderly patients undergoing cancer surgery. From the point of view of immune function after surgery and invasiveness of malignant tumor cells, propofol intravenous anesthesia may be superior to inhalational anesthesia. However, the clinical significance of these effects remains unclear. Retrospective studies indicated that use of propofol intravenous anesthesia was associated higher long-term survival rate. Prospective studies exploring the effect of anesthetic choice on long-term survival in cancer surgery patients are urgently needed.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

It is estimated that 234.2 million major surgical procedures are undertaken every year worldwide. Surgery is one of the major treatment methods for patients with malignant tumor. And, alone with the ageing process, more and more elderly patients undergo surgery for malignant tumor. However, evidence emerges that choice of anesthetics, i.e., either inhalational or intravenous anesthetics, may influence the outcome of elderly patients undergoing cancer surgery.

A. Effects of anesthetics on immune function after surgery

The choice of general anesthetics might influence human's immune function after surgery. An international multicenter team (NCT00418457) investigated the effects of propofol-paravertebral anesthesia vs sevoflurane-opioid anesthesia on the immune function in patients after breast cancer surgery. In a small sample size (n = 32) randomized controlled trail published in 2010, postoperative serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1 (protumorigenic cytokine) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-3/9 (associated with cancer cell invasion and metastasis) were significantly lower (P = 0.003 and 0.011, respectively), whereas that of IL-10 (antitumorigenic cytokines) was significantly higher in the propofol group than in the sevoflurane group (P = 0.001). In another small sample size (n = 10) randomized controlled trail published in 2014, serum obtained from patients who received propofol anesthesia led to greater human donor natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity in vitro when compared with serum from those who received sevoflurane anesthesia. In a recent small sample size (n = 28) randomized controlled trial, the levels of NK and T helper cell infiltration in breast cancer tissue were significantly higher in patients receiving propofol anesthesia than those receiving sevoflurane anesthesia (P = 0.015 and 0.03, respectively).

Similar findings were reported in patients with other malignant tumors. In a small randomized controlled trial, 30 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer randomly received either propofol or isoflurane anesthesia. The results showed that cluster of differentiation (CD)4+CD28+ percentage (P \< 0.0001) and the ratio of interferon-gamma:interleukin-4 (P = 0.001) all increased significantly with propofol but no change with isoflurane anesthesia; indicating that propofol promotes activation and differentiation of peripheral T-helper cells. In another randomized controlled trial, 60 patients undergoing surgery for tongue cancer surgery randomly received total propofol, mixed (propofol induction and sevoflurane maintenance) anesthesia or total sevoflurane anesthesia. The results showed that the percentages of CD3+, CD3+CD4+, and NK cells and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ were significantly decreased in the two sevoflurane groups, but not in the total propofol group; suggesting that propofol has less effects on cellular immune response than sevoflurane. There are also studies that reported neutral results.

The above studies suggest that, when compared with inhalational anesthesia, propofol intravenous anesthesia may have favorable effects on the immune function in patients after cancer surgery. However, care must be taken when explaining these results: (1) the sample sizes of the available studies were small; (2) the relationship between postoperative immune function changes and long-term outcomes remains unclear.

B. Effects of anesthetics on invasiveness of malignant tumor

The effects of anesthetics on invasiveness of tumor cells were mainly tested in the experimental studies, i.e., tumor cells were incubated with anesthetics in the in vitro environment. In this aspect, propofol shows somewhat favorable effects. The results of Miao et al. showed that propofol stimulation decreased the expression of MMP-2 and -9 and subsequently decreased the invasive activity of human colon cancer cells, possibly via extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) down-regulation mediated through the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-A receptor. The study of Wang et al. reported that propofol inhibited invasion and metastasis, and enhanced paclitaxel-induced apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells, possibly by suppressing the Slug expression. Ecimovic et al. also reported that propofol reduced migration in both estrogen receptor-positive and -negative breast cancer cells, possibly by suppressing the Neuroepithelial Cell Transforming Gene 1 (NET1) expression.

The reported effects of various inhalational anesthetics are conflicting. Huang et al. compared the effects of propofol and isoflurane on prostate cancer cells. The results showed that propofol, at clinical relevant concentration, inhibited the activation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 alpha, and partially reduced cancer cell malignant activities; whereas isoflurane raised HIF-1 alpha expression, and increased the probability of proliferation and migration. The study of Benaonana et al. reported similar results, i.e., isoflurane up-regulated the expression of HIFs, and increased the growth and malignant potential of renal cancer cells. On the other hand, sevoflurane and desflurane show opposite effects. Multiple studies found that sevoflurane inhibited the proliferation and migration, and induced apoptosis of lung cancer cells. Müller-Edenborn et al. also reported that volatile anesthetics (sevoflurane and desflurane) reduced invasion of colorectal cancer cells through down-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9.

So far, the clinical significance of anesthetics on the invasiveness of malignant tumors is still lacking.

C. Effect of anesthetics on long-term outcome after cancer surgery

Studies in this aspect are very limited. In the study of Enlund et al., 2838 patients who underwent breast cancer or colorectal cancer surgery were retrospectively analyzed, among them 1935 received sevoflurane anesthesia and 903 propofol anesthesia. The 1-year and 5-year survival rates were higher in propofol-anesthetized patients than in sevoflurane-anesthetized ones (differences in overall survival rate were 4.7%, P = 0.004 and 5.6%, P \< 0.001, respectively). However, the differences were not statistically significant after adjusting for confounding factors. In a recent study, Wigmore et al. retrospectively investigated 11,395 patients after cancer surgery. After exclusions and propensity matching, 2,607 patients remained in each of the inhalational anesthesia group or total intravenous anesthesia group. The results showed that, after a median follow-up duration of 2.66 years (95% confidence interval \[CI\] 2.62-2.69), volatile inhalational anesthesia was associated with a higher risk for death after both univariate (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.30-1.95) and multivariable analysis (HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.29-1.66).

However, in this aspect, long-term follow-up results of randomized controlled trials are still lacking. Prospective studies exploring the effect of anesthetic choice on long-term survival in cancer surgery patients are urgently needed.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Aged Neoplasms Surgical Procedure, Operative Anesthesia, Inhalation Anesthesia, Intravenous Survival

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Sevoflurane group

Anesthesia will be induced intravenously with midazolam (0.015-0.03 mg/kg), sufentanil, propofol, and rocuronium.

Sevoflurane will be administered by inhalation for anesthesia maintenance. The concentration of inhaled sevoflurane will be adjusted to maintain the bispectral index (BIS) value between 40 and 60. Analgesia will be supplemented with remifentanil (administered by continuous infusion), sufentanil (administered by intermittent injection/continuous infusion), or fentanyl (administered by intermittent injection).

Towards the end of surgery, sevoflurane inhalational concentration will be decreased and fentanyl/sufentanil will be administered when necessary. Sevoflurane inhalation will be stopped at the end of surgery.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Sevoflurane

Intervention Type DRUG

Sevoflurane will be administered by inhalation for anesthesia maintenance. The concentration of inhaled sevoflurane will be adjusted to maintain the BIS value between 40 and 60. Sevoflurane inhalational concentration will be decreased towards the end of surgery. Sevoflurane inhalation will be stopped at the end of surgery.

Propofol group

Anesthesia will be induced intravenously with midazolam (0.015-0.03 mg/kg), sufentanil, propofol, and rocuronium.

Propofol will be administered by intravenous infusion for anesthesia maintenance. The infusion rate of propofol will be adjusted to maintain the BIS value between 40 and 60. Analgesia will be supplemented with remifentanil (administered by continuous infusion), sufentanil (administered by intermittent injection/continuous infusion), or fentanyl (administered by intermittent injection).

Towards the end of surgery, propofol infusion rate will be decreased and fentanyl/sufentanil will be administered when necessary. Propofol infusion will be stopped at the end of surgery.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Propofol

Intervention Type DRUG

Propofol will be administered by intravenous infusion for anesthesia maintenance. The infusion rate of propofol will be adjusted to maintain the BIS value between 40 and 60. Propofol infusion rate will be decreased towards the end of surgery. Propofol infusion will be stopped at the end of surgery.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Sevoflurane

Sevoflurane will be administered by inhalation for anesthesia maintenance. The concentration of inhaled sevoflurane will be adjusted to maintain the BIS value between 40 and 60. Sevoflurane inhalational concentration will be decreased towards the end of surgery. Sevoflurane inhalation will be stopped at the end of surgery.

Intervention Type DRUG

Propofol

Propofol will be administered by intravenous infusion for anesthesia maintenance. The infusion rate of propofol will be adjusted to maintain the BIS value between 40 and 60. Propofol infusion rate will be decreased towards the end of surgery. Propofol infusion will be stopped at the end of surgery.

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

Discover alternative or legacy names that may be used to describe the listed interventions across different sources.

Sevoflurane for inhalation Propofol for injection

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Participants will be included if they meet all the following criteria:

1. Age ≥ 65 years and \< 90 years;
2. Primary malignant tumor;
3. Do not receive radiation therapy or chemotherapy before surgery;
4. Scheduled to undergo surgery for the treatment of tumors, with an expected duration of 2 hours or more, under general anesthesia;
5. Agree to participate, and give signed written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

* Patients will be excluded if they meet any of the following criteria:

1. Preoperative history of schizophrenia, epilepsy, parkinsonism or myasthenia gravis;
2. Inability to communicate in the preoperative period (coma, profound dementia, language barrier, or end-stage disease);
3. Critical illness (preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification ≥ IV), severe hepatic dysfunction (Child-Pugh class C), or severe renal dysfunction (undergoing dialysis before surgery);
4. Neurosurgery;
5. Other reasons that are considered unsuitable for participation by the responsible surgeons or investigators (reasons must be recorded in the case report form).
Minimum Eligible Age

65 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

90 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Hebei Medical University Fourth Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

The People's Hospital of Ningxia

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Cancer Hospital of Guangxi Medical University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

Zhongda Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Tang-Du Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Tianjin Nankai Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Shenzhen Second People's Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Peking University First Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Dong-Xin Wang

Professor and Chairman, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Dong-Xin Wang, MD, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Peking University First Hospital

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University First Hospital

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China

Site Status

Beijing Shijitan Hospital

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China

Site Status

Peking University Cancer Hospital

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China

Site Status

University School and Hospital of Stomatology

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China

Site Status

Cancer Hospital of Guangxi Medical University

Nanning, Guangxi, China

Site Status

Shenzhen Second People's Hospital

Shenzhen, Guangzhou, China

Site Status

Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital

Guiyang, Guizhou, China

Site Status

Hebei Medical University Forth Hospital

Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China

Site Status

The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University

Zhenzhou, Henan, China

Site Status

The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University

Changsha, Hunan, China

Site Status

Zhongda Hospital

Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

Site Status

Ningxia People's Hospital

Yinchuan, Ningxia, China

Site Status

Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University

Xining, Qinghai, China

Site Status

Tang-Du Hospital

Xi'an, Shaanxi, China

Site Status

Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital

Taiyuan, Shanxi, China

Site Status

Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital

Taiyuan, Shanxi, China

Site Status

Tianjin Nankai Hospital

Tianjin, , China

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

China

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Weiser TG, Regenbogen SE, Thompson KD, Haynes AB, Lipsitz SR, Berry WR, Gawande AA. An estimation of the global volume of surgery: a modelling strategy based on available data. Lancet. 2008 Jul 12;372(9633):139-144. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60878-8. Epub 2008 Jun 24.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18582931 (View on PubMed)

Deegan CA, Murray D, Doran P, Moriarty DC, Sessler DI, Mascha E, Kavanagh BP, Buggy DJ. Anesthetic technique and the cytokine and matrix metalloproteinase response to primary breast cancer surgery. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2010 Nov-Dec;35(6):490-5. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0b013e3181ef4d05.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20975461 (View on PubMed)

Buckley A, McQuaid S, Johnson P, Buggy DJ. Effect of anaesthetic technique on the natural killer cell anti-tumour activity of serum from women undergoing breast cancer surgery: a pilot study. Br J Anaesth. 2014 Jul;113 Suppl 1:i56-62. doi: 10.1093/bja/aeu200. Epub 2014 Jul 9.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25009196 (View on PubMed)

Desmond F, McCormack J, Mulligan N, Stokes M, Buggy DJ. Effect of anaesthetic technique on immune cell infiltration in breast cancer: a follow-up pilot analysis of a prospective, randomised, investigator-masked study. Anticancer Res. 2015 Mar;35(3):1311-9.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25750280 (View on PubMed)

Ren XF, Li WZ, Meng FY, Lin CF. Differential effects of propofol and isoflurane on the activation of T-helper cells in lung cancer patients. Anaesthesia. 2010 May;65(5):478-82. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2010.06304.x. Epub 2010 Mar 19.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20337621 (View on PubMed)

Zhang T, Fan Y, Liu K, Wang Y. Effects of different general anaesthetic techniques on immune responses in patients undergoing surgery for tongue cancer. Anaesth Intensive Care. 2014 Mar;42(2):220-7. doi: 10.1177/0310057X1404200209.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24580388 (View on PubMed)

Margarit SC, Vasian HN, Balla E, Vesa S, Ionescu DC. The influence of total intravenous anaesthesia and isoflurane anaesthesia on plasma interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 concentrations after colorectal surgery for cancer: a randomised controlled trial. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2014 Dec;31(12):678-84. doi: 10.1097/EJA.0000000000000057.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24614619 (View on PubMed)

Miao Y, Zhang Y, Wan H, Chen L, Wang F. GABA-receptor agonist, propofol inhibits invasion of colon carcinoma cells. Biomed Pharmacother. 2010 Nov;64(9):583-8. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2010.03.006. Epub 2010 May 4.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20888181 (View on PubMed)

Wang P, Chen J, Mu LH, Du QH, Niu XH, Zhang MY. Propofol inhibits invasion and enhances paclitaxel- induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells through the suppression of the transcription factor slug. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2013 Jul;17(13):1722-9.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23852894 (View on PubMed)

Ecimovic P, Murray D, Doran P, Buggy DJ. Propofol and bupivacaine in breast cancer cell function in vitro - role of the NET1 gene. Anticancer Res. 2014 Mar;34(3):1321-31.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24596379 (View on PubMed)

Huang H, Benzonana LL, Zhao H, Watts HR, Perry NJ, Bevan C, Brown R, Ma D. Prostate cancer cell malignancy via modulation of HIF-1alpha pathway with isoflurane and propofol alone and in combination. Br J Cancer. 2014 Sep 23;111(7):1338-49. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2014.426. Epub 2014 Jul 29.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25072260 (View on PubMed)

Benzonana LL, Perry NJ, Watts HR, Yang B, Perry IA, Coombes C, Takata M, Ma D. Isoflurane, a commonly used volatile anesthetic, enhances renal cancer growth and malignant potential via the hypoxia-inducible factor cellular signaling pathway in vitro. Anesthesiology. 2013 Sep;119(3):593-605. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e31829e47fd.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23774231 (View on PubMed)

Liang H, Gu M, Yang C, Wang H, Wen X, Zhou Q. Sevoflurane inhibits invasion and migration of lung cancer cells by inactivating the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. J Anesth. 2012 Jun;26(3):381-92. doi: 10.1007/s00540-011-1317-y. Epub 2012 Feb 17.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22349744 (View on PubMed)

Wei GH, Zhang J, Liao DQ, Li Z, Yang J, Luo NF, Gu Y. The common anesthetic, sevoflurane, induces apoptosis in A549 lung alveolar epithelial cells. Mol Med Rep. 2014 Jan;9(1):197-203. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2013.1806. Epub 2013 Nov 18.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24248633 (View on PubMed)

Liang H, Yang CX, Zhang B, Wang HB, Liu HZ, Lai XH, Liao MJ, Zhang T. Sevoflurane suppresses hypoxia-induced growth and metastasis of lung cancer cells via inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha. J Anesth. 2015 Dec;29(6):821-30. doi: 10.1007/s00540-015-2035-7. Epub 2015 May 23.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26002230 (View on PubMed)

Muller-Edenborn B, Roth-Z'graggen B, Bartnicka K, Borgeat A, Hoos A, Borsig L, Beck-Schimmer B. Volatile anesthetics reduce invasion of colorectal cancer cells through down-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9. Anesthesiology. 2012 Aug;117(2):293-301. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e3182605df1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22739763 (View on PubMed)

Enlund M, Berglund A, Andreasson K, Cicek C, Enlund A, Bergkvist L. The choice of anaesthetic--sevoflurane or propofol--and outcome from cancer surgery: a retrospective analysis. Ups J Med Sci. 2014 Aug;119(3):251-61. doi: 10.3109/03009734.2014.922649. Epub 2014 May 26.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24857018 (View on PubMed)

Wigmore TJ, Mohammed K, Jhanji S. Long-term Survival for Patients Undergoing Volatile versus IV Anesthesia for Cancer Surgery: A Retrospective Analysis. Anesthesiology. 2016 Jan;124(1):69-79. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000000936.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26556730 (View on PubMed)

Cao SJ, Zhang Y, Zhang YX, Zhao W, Pan LH, Sun XD, Jia Z, Ouyang W, Ye QS, Zhang FX, Guo YQ, Ai YQ, Zhao BJ, Yu JB, Liu ZH, Yin N, Li XY, Ma JH, Li HJ, Wang MR, Sessler DI, Ma D, Wang DX; First Study of Perioperative Organ Protection (SPOP1) investigators. Long-term survival in older patients given propofol or sevoflurane anaesthesia for major cancer surgery: follow-up of a multicentre randomised trial. Br J Anaesth. 2023 Aug;131(2):266-275. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2023.01.023. Epub 2023 Jun 4.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 37474242 (View on PubMed)

Zhang Y, Li HJ, Wang DX, Jia HQ, Sun XD, Pan LH, Ye QS, Ouyang W, Jia Z, Zhang FX, Guo YQ, Ai YQ, Zhao BJ, Yang XD, Zhang QG, Yin N, Tan HY, Liu ZH, Yu JB, Ma D. Impact of inhalational versus intravenous anaesthesia on early delirium and long-term survival in elderly patients after cancer surgery: study protocol of a multicentre, open-label, and randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2017 Nov 28;7(11):e018607. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-018607.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 29187413 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

ChiCTR-IPR-15006209

Identifier Type: REGISTRY

Identifier Source: secondary_id

2015[869]-2

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Anesthesia and Cancer Study: Colon Cancer
NCT04259398 ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING NA
TIVA vs Inhalational Mode of Anaesthesia
NCT03807297 COMPLETED PHASE2