The effect of immune enhancement and suppression on the development of laparoscopic port site metastases.
BACKGROUND
Recent clinical case reports and experimental studies have suggested that laparoscopic cancer surgery is associated with an increased risk of tumor spread to abdominal wall wounds. While the etiology of this problem was initially believed to be related to mechanical contamination of wounds, it is now recognized that there are other contributory factors, including disturbed immune function within the peritoneal cavity. To investigate this question further, we evaluated the effect of immune modulation within an established laparoscopic cancer model.


METHODS
Eighteen immune-competent syngeneic rats underwent modulation of their immune system, followed 18 h later by laparoscopy with the introduction of a suspension of adenocarcinoma cells into the peritoneal cavity. Rats were randomly allocated to receive either systemic cyclosporin (immune suppressor), intraperitoneal endotoxin (immune enhancer), or no agent (controls). Seven days later, all rats were killed and their peritoneal cavity was inspected for tumor implantation and port site metastases.


RESULTS
Cyclosporin did not influence the study outcome, but tumor growth (p = 0.008) and port site metastases (p < 0.0001) were less common following the administration of intraperitoneal endotoxin.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that the immune system plays a role in the genesis of port site metastases. A preventive role for endotoxin in patients undergoing laparoscopic cancer surgery, however, remains speculative.
Neuhaus
S J
SJ
The Royal Adelaide Centre for Endoscopic Surgery, University of Adelaide Department of Surgery, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000 Australia.
Watson
D I
DI
Ellis
T
T
Rofe
A M
AM
Jamieson
G G
GG
D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000276:immunology*; D009366:Neoplasm Seeding; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D004731:Endotoxins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine