Influence of Opioid Analgesia on Circulating Tumor Cells in Open Colorectal Cancer Surgery

Influence of Peri-operative Opioid Analgesia on Circulating Tumor Cells in Patients Undergoing Open Colorectal Cancer Surgery - Multi-center, Randomized Clinical Trial

To compare the effects of three types of perioperative analgesia on the number of circulating tumor cells following radical colorectal cancer surgery. To find correlations with other perioperative factors and clinical/pathological disease characteristics.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients undergoing open radical surgery for colorectal cancer
• age over 18 years
• signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• intolerance of the study drugs
• history of CRC surgery
• neoadjuvant therapy
• contraindications to epidural analgesia
• other malignancy not in permanent remission
• chronic opioid medication or opioid administration within 7 days preoperatively
• immunosuppressive or corticosteroid therapy
• surgery within 30 days preoperatively (except minor)
• chronic or acute infection