Protective covering of surgical wounds with honey impedes tumor implantation

Hypothesis: Tumor implantation (TI) development at the surgical wound follo wing cancer surgery is still an unresolved concern. Trocar site recurrence, which is likely a form of TI, has become one of the most controversial top ics and, with the widespread acceptance of laparoscopic surgery, has caused renewed interest in questions about TI. Honey has positive effects on woun d healing. Physiological and chemical properties of honey might prevent TI when applied locally. Design, Interventions, and Main Outcome Measures: Sixty BALB/c strain mice, divided into 2 groups, were wounded in the posterior neck area. Group 1 mi ce formed the control group, and group 2 mice had wounds coated with honey before and after tumor inoculation. All wounds were inoculated with transpl antable Ehrlich ascites tumor. The presence of TI was confirmed in the woun ded area by histopathological examination on the 10th day. Results: Tumor implantation was achieved in all group 1 animals and verifie d by palpable mass and histopathological examination. In group 2 mice, alth ough TI could not be detected macroscopically, it was revealed by pathologi cal examination in 8 cases. Tumor implantation was less likely in group 2 m ice (8 of 30 vs 30 of 30; P<.001): Conclusions: Tumor implantation was markedly decreased by the application o f honey pre- and postoperatively. It is possible that the physiological and chemical properties of honey protected wounds against TI. Honey could be u sed as a wound barrier against TI during pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic o ncological surgery and in other fields of oncological surgery.