Keywords

Basic science, Cancer, Ketamine, Natural killer cells

 

Authors

  1. Estes, Savannah BSN, SRNA
  2. Dinh, Tim BSN, SRNA
  3. Garrett, Normalynn PhD

Abstract

Although the first line of defense in cancer treatment often is surgery, studies suggest that postoperative pain and anesthetic drugs suppress the activity of cells that lyse metastatic cells, that is, natural killer cells. We assessed the affect of low-dose ketamine on natural killer cell activity. The findings are presented in this brief report.