Dexmedetomidine alleviates the pro-tumor activity of perioperative stress in tumor-bearing mice: an alternative approach of psycho-physiological intervention

  • World J Surg Oncol. 2025 Mar 28;23(1):103. doi: 10.1186/s12957-025-03665-w.
Shanqing Xu  1  2 ,  Yongzhong Tang  1  3 ,  Jianbin Tong  4  5  6
Affiliations
  • 1. Department of Anaesthesiology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
  • 2. Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Brain Homeostasis, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
  • 3. Center of Clinical Pharmacology, Central South University, Changsha, China.
  • 4. Department of Anaesthesiology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China. [email protected].
  • 5. Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Brain Homeostasis, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China. [email protected].
  • 6. Department of Anesthesiology, Third Xiangya Hospital, 138 Tongzipo Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, P.R. China. [email protected].
PMID: 40156037 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-025-03665-w
Abstract

Background: The immediate perioperative period (IPP) usually is highly stressful and has significant effects on the postoperative recurrence/metastasis of tumors. Effective methods for limiting the impact of the IPP on postoperative recurrence/metastasis of tumors remain scarce. We aimed to determine the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) treatment during the IPP on postoperative recurrence/metastasis of tumors and the stress response.

Materials and methods: The clinical perioperative setting was mimicked via tumor resection and perioperative restraint stress in tumor-bearing mice with or without DEX during the IPP. The stress response was assessed using stress hormone and interleukin (IL)-6 levels in peripheral blood. Tumor cell growth was measured via in vivo bioluminescent imaging, cell viability assay, wound-healing assay, and Western blotting.

Results: In tumor-bearing mice, DEX during the IPP limited the growth of implanted tumor cells and stress response in a dose-dependent manner. The serum from mice without DEX promoted cultured tumor cell growth, which was alleviated by beta-adrenergic receptor blocker propranolol or IL-6 antibody. Relative to the serum from mice without DEX, the serum from mice with DEX had lower stress hormone and IL-6 levels, as well as weaker effects on tumor growth promotion. Dexmedetomidine supplementation during culture had no significant effects on tumor cells.

Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine alleviates the pro-tumor activity of perioperative stress in abdominal tumors.

Keywords
Dexmedetomidine; Long-term outcomes; Perioperative stress; Tumor metastasis.
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