Numerous studies found that anesthetic methods can influence the recurrence of tumor and the overall survival of patients after primary cancer surgery. Radiofrequency (RF) ablation is now widely used in clinic for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Currently, diverse anesthetic methods, including general anesthesia (GA), epidural anesthesia and local anesthesia (LA), are used for RF ablation surgery. Using serum from HCC surgery patients randomized to receive either GA or LA during surgery, we investigated the effects of anesthetic methods on proliferation, migration and metastasis in HepG2 hepatic cancer cells in vitro.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients with a single primary liver tumor of 3cm or smaller, who are scheduled for RF ablation surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• less than 18 or more than 65 years old;
• ASA Physical Status 4 or greater;
• previous surgery in liver (including radiofrequency ablation);
• severe systemic disease (heart, lung, kidney, or immune system);
• INR>1.5 or platelet count <45,000 cells/mm3;
• a history of addiction to opioids;
• with known extension beyond the liver;
• Child-Pugh Class C.