Colon cancer: Laparoscopic resection

Abstract

LAC for colon cancer continues to be a topic of debate. However, since its first description more than a decade ago, evidence has clarified topics such as feasibility, safety and recurrence. Port-site metastases have been addressed in recent reports and specific precautions can lower their incidence. It is clear that LAC is associated with shorter hospital stay, less use of analgesia and better cosmesis. A recent large, prospective, randomized trial confirmed that LAC is equivalent to open surgery in terms of oncologic results. There could be an even better result in stage III patients, as described in a recent report [22]. Intense research is underway to study the impact of laparoscopy on cancer biology and immune response that could explain differences in outcome. © 2005 European Society for Medical Oncology.