Effects of local anesthetics on cancer cells

Local anesthetics are widely used during clinical cancer surgeries. Studies have suggested that the use and the type of anesthesia affect cancer outcomes. In vivo studies and dinical data show that the use of local anesthetics is potentially beneficial for cancer treatment. However, the effect of the use of local anesthetics on the survival rate of cancer patients following surgery is controversial and, so far, little is known about the direct effects of local anesthetics on cancer cells. This work reviews and summarizes the published literature regarding the pre-clinical research methods and findings on the influence of local anesthetics on cancer cells. We hope that a thorough understanding of this subject will help to define optimal anesthetic regimens that lead to better outcomes for clinical cancer patients. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.