ABSTRACT Background: The allogeneic transfusion-related immunomodulation (TRIM) may be responsible for an increase in survival of renal transplants but in contrast it could increase the rate of bacterial infections or the recurrence rate of tumors post-operatively. Objective: This review focuses in the implications of perioperative allogeneic transfusions on the immune-inflammatory response of surgical transfused patients. Results: ABTs modify immune functions in recipients including decrease of the number of lymphocytes; decrease the CD4 cells; decrease the CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio; decrease NK cells; and decrease the lymphocyte response to mitogens. TRIM effects may be mediated by allogeneic white cells present in blood products; soluble peptides present in transfused plasma; and/or biologic mediators released into the supernatant of blood units. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis including 36 clinical observational studies (n = 174,036) concluded that perioperative ABTs not only decreased overall survival and reduced colorectal cancer-specific survival. Furthermore ABTs increased the rate of infectious, cardiac, pulmonary and anastomotic complications in colorectal cancer patients undergoing surgery. Conclusions: It has been demonstrated by laboratory tests that TRIM is associated with transfusion recipient immune alterations but its influence in colorectal cancer recurrence after resection remains controversial though may exist. Surgical techniques reducing intraoperative blood loss have limited the number of ABTs perioperatively, however increase in mortality continues to be reported in literature after ABT in colorectal cancer surgery. Poor survival associated to TRIM in colorectal cancer might be due to higher number of allogeneic transfused units and/or prolonged length of blood storage.

O tratamento de escolha para o carcinoma epidermóide avançado de tonsila consiste em cirurgia e radioterapia pós-operatória. A indicação de radioterapia pós-operatória baseia-se no exame do espécime operatório, considerando as margens cirúrgicas, a presença de embolização neoplásica, infiltração perineural ou de linfonodos cervicais metastáticos. Segundo a literatura, o tratamento ionizante tem o potencial de induzir uma neoplasia, embora a evidência clínica seja escassa. O presente relato descreve um paciente portador de carcinoma epidermóide de tonsila, submetido à irradiação ionizante que evoluiu com quadro clínico de leucemia mielóide crônica, três anos após o tratamento inicial. Um paciente do sexo masculino de 54 anos, branco, operado há 11 anos de um carcinoma epidermóide de tonsila e submetido à radioterapia (50Gy), após três anos apresentou desmaio súbito e fraqueza. O exame laboratorial mostrou tratar-se de leucose e o mielograma revelou uma leucemia mielóide crônica. O paciente foi submetido à quimioterapia com Hidroxiuréia e interferon, sem sinais de recidiva após um seguimento de 8 anos (até novembro de 2003).

Surgery and postsurgical radiotherapy are the standard treatment of advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsillar region and they are based on specimen findings, such as margins, vascular embolization, perineural infiltration or metastatic lymph nodes. Apparently, radiotherapy has the potential to bear malignant neoplasms, although this fact is uncommon. A case of a 54-year-old Caucasian male with squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsillar region treated by surgery and radiotherapy (50Gy) eleven years ago is described. After three years of follow-up, he suddenly presented sudden fainting and weakness. The laboratorial exam revealed higher rate of leucocytes and myelogram confirmed the diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia. The patient received Hydroxyurea and then Interferon. After eight years of follow-up, he showed no evidence of disease.