LS has been favored by a growing number of surgeons due to its faster recovery, shorter hospital stays, and long-term outcomes comparable to those of open surgery[20, 24, 25]. However, studies have suggested that LS may be associated with the increased risk of peritoneal metastasis[17, 26]. These studies were all retrospective and exhibited an imbalance in baseline characteristics. Currently, there are no randomized controlled trials addressing this issue[15]. Moreover, clinical trials for metastatic colon cancer have systematically excluded patients with peritoneal metastases, potentially due to challenges in imaging and assessment[27, 28].
Since larger tumors and local tissue invasion can significantly increase surgical difficulty, the decision between open or LS is made by the surgeon based on the individual characteristics of each patient. Consequently, in our study, the tumor diameter was smaller and the proportion of overweight and obese patients was higher in the LS group. In contrast to some previous studies addressing this issue [17, 26, 29], we used PSM to balance baseline characteristics and minimize bias.
Through multivariate analysis, we found that the LS was a risk factor for PPM. The use of cold, dry carbon dioxide for pneumoperitoneum during LS may damage peritoneal mesothelial cells[30–32], leading to the release of proinflammatory and proangiogenic mediators, including COX-2 and VEGF-A. This process could build a microenvironment conducive to tumor cell proliferation, enhance the adhesion of disseminated cells, and ultimately increase the risk of metastasis[33, 34]. Although laparoscopy offers a magnified view, it may result in the omission of small peritoneal metastases hidden behind organs or situated in blind spots of the camera's field of vision[35]. In contrast, during open surgery, the surgeon can palpate and explore areas beyond visual reach, potentially detecting peritoneal metastases that might otherwise go unnoticed[36]. Additionally, since the intraoperative lavage area is more restricted in LS, there may be a higher chance of residual free cancer cells remaining in the abdominal cavity postoperatively, which also increases the risk of PPM[37, 38].
Notably, we found pN stage and postoperative complications to be independent risk factors for PPM, which is consistent with previous studies[39, 40]. Since postoperative complications may trigger an inflammatory response[41, 42], the inflammation may promote tumor metastasis and recurrence through mechanisms such as damage to the intestinal vascular barrier[43].
When locally advanced tumors require multivisceral surgery, LS presents a significantly greater challenge[44, 45]. In this study, 5 patients were converted to open surgery. The reasons were as follows: in 2 cases, tumor invasion into adjacent organs made LS difficult; in 2 cases, severe intra-abdominal adhesions obstructed the view; and in 1 case, the tumor was too large to be safely resected. Conversion of laparoscopic colon cancer surgery introduces additional trauma and increased costs, and it may also elevate the risk of long-term recurrence and metastasis[46]. Before selecting LS for T4 colon cancer surgery, surgeons must thoroughly assess the surgical difficulty using imaging and colonoscopy findings to minimize the risk of conversion.
Our study has some limitations. Despite performing PSM to balance baseline characteristics, the retrospective, single-center design limits the generalizability of the results. A larger cohort could enhance the statistical power of our findings.