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The Effect of Combined General/Regional Anesthesia on Cancer Recurrence in Patients Having Lung Cancer Resections

The Effect of Combined General/Regional Anesthesia on Cancer Recurrence in Patients Having Lung Cancer Resections

Status
Withdrawn
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02840227
Enrollment
0
Registered
2016-07-21
Start date
2013-12-31
Completion date
2024-12-31
Last updated
2024-06-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Keywords

Cancer, General anesthesia, Epidural anesthesia

Brief summary

The primary hypothesis is that disease-free survival is improved in patients undergoing resection for tumor thought to be stage I-III primary non-small cell lung cancer in patients with combined general-epidural anesthesia & analgesia as compared to patients receiving general anesthesia and postoperative patient-controlled opioid analgesia. Patients having surgery for resection of potentially curable lung cancer will be randomized to combined general and epidural anesthesia or general anesthesia with opioid analgesia. The primary outcome will be disease-free survival.

Detailed description

Surgery is the primary treatment of lung cancer, but surgery releases tumor cells into the systemic circulation. Whether this minimal residual disease results in clinical metastases is a function of host defense. At least three perioperative factors shift the balance toward initiation and progression of minimal residual disease. 1. Surgery per se depresses cell-mediated immunity, reduces concentrations of tumor-related anti-angiogenic factors (e.g., angiostatin and endostatin), and increases concentrations of pro-angiogenic factors such as VEGF. 2. Anesthesia impairs numerous immune functions, including neutrophil, macrophages, dendritic cells, T-cell, and NK-cell functions. 3. Opioid analgesics inhibit both cellular and humoral immune function in humans, and promote tumor growth in rodents. The primary hypothesis is that disease-free survival is improved in patients undergoing resection for tumor thought to be stage I-III primary non-small cell lung cancer in patients with combined general-epidural anesthesia & analgesia as compared to patients receiving general anesthesia and postoperative patient-controlled opioid analgesia. Patients having surgery for resection of potentially curable lung cancer will be randomized to combined general and epidural anesthesia or general anesthesia with opioid analgesia. The primary outcome will be disease-free survival. The effect of combined epidural/general anesthesia versus general anesthesia with opioid analgesia on the primary outcome of disease-free survival (time to the earlier or recurrence or death from any cause) will be assessed uni-variably with Kaplan-Meier analyses and multivariably (primary analysis) with a Cox proportional hazards regression model adjusting for known risk factors for recurrence, including tumor stage, size of tumor, age, sex, receipt of chemotherapy before or after surgery, and clinical site. As usual for this type of analysis, stopping criteria will be based on number of outcome events rather than enrollment.

Interventions

PROCEDUREGeneral anesthesia with opioid analgesia

General anesthesia with routine drugs and intravenous patient controlled opioid analgesia. General anesthesia may include propofol, isoflurane, sevoflurane, and other drugs.

PROCEDURECombined general/epidural anesthesia

Combined general/epidural anesthesia and analgesia. General anesthesia may include propofol, isoflurane, sevoflurane, and other drugs. Epidural anesthesia will include bupivacaine and other local anesthetics.

Sponsors

Shanghai Chest Hospital
CollaboratorOTHER
The Cleveland Clinic
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Tumor thought to be primary non-small cell lung cancer (stage 1-3) as determined according to the IASLC Lung Cancer Staging Project\[ref\]; 2. Scheduled for potentially curative tumor resection; 3. Written informed consent, including willingness to be randomized to epidural anesthesia/analgesia plus general anesthesia or to general anesthesia and postoperative opioid analgesia; 4. ASA physical status 1-3.

Exclusion criteria

1. Any contraindication to epidural anesthesia, (including coagulopathy, abnormal anatomy). 2. Any contraindication to midazolam, propofol, sevoflurane, fentanyl, morphine, or hydromorphone. 3. Age \<18 or \>85 years old. 4. Other cancer not believed by the attending surgeon to be in long-term remission.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Cancer-free survival3 years or as availablePatients who remain alive without known lung cancer recurrence

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Pain intensity2 daysTime-weighted average pain scores over initial two days of hospitalization.
SF-12 Health Survey6, 12, 24, and 36 months
McGill Pain Questionnaire6, 12, 24, and 36 months
Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire6, 12, 24, and 36 months
Opioid use2 daysTotal opioid use

Countries

China

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026