A novel clinical approach could make cancer operations more victorious.

Cancer surgery weakens a body''s immune system and stress hormones exacerbate the problem - leading to recurrence of cancer in patients.

Prof. Shamgar Ben-Eliyahu, head of Tel Aviv University's Department of Psychology is examining a cocktail of drugs to prevent the pessimistic effects of stress responses to colon cancer surgical procedure.

If victorious, it will assist the immune system preserve its vigour and thwart the occurrence of new tumors.

According to Ben-Eliyahu, existing generic drugs could block the influence of the hormones that wreak havoc on the immune system.

The team blocked these hormones in animals using the drugs - beta-adrenergic antagonist, which is used to treat hypertension and anxiety, and a Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, used against inflammation and pain.

The results indicated that long-term post-operative survival rates could increase by as much as 300 percent.

If his new research on human volunteers succeeds, it could set a new example for cancer cure and post-surgery recovery rates.

The research appeared in a recent issue of the Journal of Immunology. (With Inputs from Agencies)