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Anesthetics may modulate cancer surgical outcome: a possible role of miRNAs regulation

Masashi Ishikawa1,2, Masae Iwasaki3,4, Atsuhiro Sakamoto3

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5, Sendagi, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8603, Japan. masashi-i@nms.ac.jp.

BMC Anesthesiology
|March 22, 2021
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Anesthetics influence cancer progression by altering microRNAs (miRNAs), which regulate gene expression. Further research is needed to optimize anesthesia for cancer patients, considering these miRNA-mediated effects.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Anesthesiology

Background:

  • microRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNA molecules regulating gene expression post-transcriptionally.
  • miRNAs play critical roles in cancer, acting as tumor suppressors or oncogenes.
  • These roles involve cancer cell biology, intercellular communication, and immune responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore how anesthetics affect cancer cell biology via miRNA-mediated pathways.
  • To highlight the current limitations and future research directions in this field.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on anesthetic effects on miRNA expression and function.
  • Analysis of specific anesthetic agents like sevoflurane and propofol and their impact on cancer-related miRNAs.

Main Results:

  • Anesthetics, including sevoflurane and propofol, can modulate miRNA expression, affecting cancer cell proliferation and the tumor microenvironment.
  • Propofol's effects on miRNAs in extracellular vesicles suggest a role in modulating cell-to-cell communication with anti-cancer implications.
  • Anesthetic-induced alterations in cellular signaling pathways are mediated by miRNA modifications.

Conclusions:

  • Inhalational and intravenous anesthetics can influence cancer biology through miRNA pathway modulation.
  • The current understanding of anesthetic-miRNA interactions in cancer is limited.
  • Further investigation is crucial to determine optimal anesthesia strategies for cancer patients.
Keywords:
AnestheticsAnti-cancer immunityCancerCell-to-cell communicationMicroRNA

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