IV anesthesia may impair anticancer immunity less than volatile anesthesia and therefore reduce recurrence risk. 

The association between type of anesthesia used and recurrence of cancer remains controversial. This retrospective cohort study compared the influence of total IV anesthesia and inhalation anesthesia on the primary outcome of recurrence-free survival after breast cancer surgery. 

In a large propensity-matched retrospective cohort analysis, the authors compared total IV and volatile anesthesia for breast cancer surgery Recurrence hazard was similar with each approach Selection of IV or volatile anesthesia should be based on factors other than cancer recurrence.