Abstract Background Patients undergoing gastrointestinal cancer surgery are often immunocompromised and susceptible to infectious complications. Recombinant Interleukin 2 activates effector immune cells and stimulates the expansion of regulatory T-cells, making it a promising intervention for prevention of inflammatory complications. Objective Our objective was to investigate effects of different preoperative rIL2 dosages on postoperative outcome parameters. Methods We conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis and included RCTs that recruited adult patients undergoing gastrointestinal cancer surgery who received preoperative subcutaneous rIL2. We performed a systematic search of MEDLINE (via PubMed), Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) from 1989 up to April 18th, 2024. Results Out of 2324 screened studies, we included 13 RCTs with a total of 504 patients. Lymphocyte counts cells/mm 3 at 1 week postoperative were higher in the intervention compared to the control group (MD 865 (95%CI: 26, 1705)). Surgical site infections and systemic infections were less likely to occur in the intervention group (OR 0.13 (95%CI: 0.03, 0.50); OR 0.25 (95%CI: 0.10, 0.66)). Severe side effects of rIL2 were not reported. Conclusion Preoperative rIL2-based immunomodulation prevents postoperative immunosuppression while the occurrence of severe side effects does not seem to be relevant.
Horcicka et al. (2026) studied this question.