[CO2 pneumoperitoneum inhibits in vitro proliferation of human carcinoma cells]

Up to this day, the influence of laparoscopy and hyperbaric carbon dioxide on the growth of tumor cells is not yet clear. Cells of human colonic carcinoma CX-2 and pancreatic carcinoma DAN-G were exposed to carbon dioxide under pressures of zero, 6 and 12 mmHg. Proliferation was measured by counting in NEUBAUER's counting chamber and by DNAstaining with Pico Green over five days after exposition. In a third experiment, dead cells were stained with Propidium Iodide and detected by flow cytometry. Only DAN-G after 6 mmHg showed at day five an increasing proliferation rate. Furthermore, exposition to carbon dioxide lead to an increased necrosis of cells. All other groups showed a significantly decreased proliferating activity of the cells exposed to carbon dioxide in comparison to a control group.