Laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of colon carcinoma causes pH value alterations as well as changes in fibrinolytic activity. This results in enhanced proliferation of colon carcinoma cells in vitro and also in enhanced growth of liver metastasis when compared to isobaric (gasless) laparoscopy in vivo. So far, the direct influence of CO(2) pneumoperitoneum on the invasiveness and metastatic capabilities of colon cancer cells remains unclear. We therefore evaluated transcripts of the uPA system.
