Objective:

To evaluate the association between perioperatively induced surgical trauma, measured by CRP concentration, and long-term oncological outcomes, specifically cancer recurrence and overall survival, in patients undergoing RAS or LAS for UICC stage I–III colon cancer.

Key Findings:

• Higher postoperative CRP levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of cancer recurrence.
• Robot-assisted surgery (RAS) demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in long-term survival compared to laparoscopic surgery (LAS).
• The study highlights the critical impact of surgical stress response on long-term oncological outcomes, suggesting a need for techniques that minimize this response.

Interpretation:

The findings suggest that minimizing surgical stress through RAS may enhance long-term survival in colon cancer patients by reducing postoperative inflammatory responses, which are linked to cancer recurrence.

Limitations:

• The observational nature of the study may introduce confounding factors that could affect the validity of the results.
• Data were limited to Danish health registries, which may affect the generalizability of the findings to other populations.

Conclusion:

The study underscores the importance of surgical technique in influencing long-term outcomes in colon cancer surgery, with RAS potentially offering significant benefits over LAS, warranting further investigation in diverse populations.