title: Blood transfusion practices in cancer surgery.
abstract: Cancer patients are commonly transfused with blood products immediately before, during or after major surgery. Blood loss and haemodilution are the most common causes of red blood cells (RBCs) administration and coagulopathies are the indications for the infusion of fresh-frozen plasma (FFP), cryoprecipitates and platelets. Transfusion-related immune modulation is a complication associated with the administration of blood products. A decreased immune surveillance as a consequence of blood transfusions has been linked to cancer recurrence and progression. Moreover, soluble factors present in packed RBCs, platelets and FFP can directly stimulate tumour growth and spread. Two meta-analyses suggest that the administration of blood products is associated with shorter recurrence-free survival and overall survival after colorectal cancer surgery. More studies are needed to show such association in different cancer patient populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA ; Outcomes Research Consortium, USA.
authors.forename: Juan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cata
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Vijaya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gottumukkala
keywords: Blood product transfusion; cancer recurrence; immune suppression