Surgical resection remains central to the management of many
cancers. Nonetheless, even the most vigilant surgical technique may leave
residual malignancy and promote tumour cell shedding into the blood and
lymphatics. The propensity of these residual cells to thrive is determined by a
complex interplay between the intrinsic ability of the cells to proliferate and
invade, the microenvironment serving those cells and the patient’s ability to
mount an anti-cancer response. While the intrinsic make-up of residual cells is
not modifiable, there is growing interest in the ability of anaesthetic drugs
to directly affect the cancer.