Cancer is the leading cause of death in developing nations and has surpassed cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death in developed nations. While surgery remains the primary treatment for solid tumours, metastatic recurrence occurs in many patients and is responsible for more than 90% of deaths in people with cancer. Studies show that perioperative (surgical and anaesthetic) factors may impact metastatic recurrence post-surgery.

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The act of surgery causes significant biological perturbation, stress, inflammation and suppression of cell-mediated immunity that can lead to the proliferation of residual cancer cells post-surgery. Certain anaesthesia drugs may favorably alter the inflammation and stress response to cancer surgery, leading to improved outcomes. For example in a cohort study, findings suggested that general anaesthesia delivered by total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) with propofol is associated with improved survival outcomes in comparison to anaesthesia by inhaled volatiles. Pre-clinical mouse models show that an infusion of the local anaesthesia drug lidocaine reduces inflammation and recurrence. These two drugs (propofol and lidocaine) will be studied in the VAPOR-C trial.

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The VAPOR-C trial is an international, multi-centre, pragmatic, event-driven, randomised controlled trial investigating the effects of sevoflurane or propofol based general anaesthesia, as well as intravenous lidocaine  administered during surgery and their effects on outcomes after colorectal and lung cancer surgery.

This website provides information and updates on the trial and participating sites. If you are interested in running this trial at your site, please contact the research team using the form below.