ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the stress response of laparoscopic surgery (LS) and conventional open surgery (OS) in patients with colorectal cancer. MethodsThe literatures about the immune stress response of LS and OS for colorectal cancer were collected from PubMed, Springer, OVID, Cochrane library, CNKI, VIP Database, and Wanfang Database from May 2001 to September 2014. RevMan 5.3 software was used for data analysis. ResultsFifteen randomized controlled trials including 881 patients were brought into this Meta analysis, of 881 patients, 424 patients were treated with LS and 457 patients were treated with OS. The results of Meta-analysis showed that:①At 24, 72, and 120 hours after surgery, the levels of interleukin (IL-6) in LS group were all lower than those of OS group at same time point[24 h (WMD=-27.78, 95% CI:-43.24--12.32, P < 0.01), 72 h (WMD=-13.23, 95% CI:-19.89--6.57, P < 0.01), 120 h (WMD=-16.51, 95% CI:-30.13--2.89, P=0.02)]. ②At 24, 72, and 120 hours after surgery, the levels of C reactive protein (CRP) in LS group were all lower than those of OS group at same time point[24 h (WMD=-31.11, 95% CI:-47.49--14.73, P < 0.01), 72 h (WMD=-29.81, 95% CI:-49.99--9.64, P < 0.01), 120 h (WMD=-32.03, 95% CI:-45.34--18.71, P < 0.01)]. ③There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in WBC level at 24 hours after surgery (WMD=-0.63, 95% CI:-1.80-0.54, P=0.29), but the WBC levels of LS group at 72 hours and 120 hours after surgery were lower than those of OS group[72 h (WMD=-0.21, 95% CI:-0.41--0.01, P=0.04), 120 h (WMD=-0.86, 95% CI:-1.66--0.06, P=0.03). ④There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in cortisol level at 24 hours and 72 hours after surgery[24 h (WMD=-60.19, 95% CI:-194.77-74.39, P=0.38), 72 h (WMD=-13.83, 95% CI:-43.94-16.28, P=0.37). ⑤There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in blood glucose level at 24 hours and 72 hours after surgery[24 h (WMD=-0.95, 95% CI:-2.74-0.84, P=0.30), 72 h (WMD=-0.69, 95% CI:-2.05-0.66, P=0.32)]. ⑥There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in insulin level (WMD=-0.52, 95% CI:-1.87-0.82, P=0.45) at 24 hours after surgery. ⑦There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in tumor necrosis factor (TNF) level at 24 hours after surgery (WMD=-4.18, 95% CI:-9.39-1.04, P=0.12). ConclusionCompared with open radical surgery, laparoscopic radical surgery for colorectal cancer causes less stress and less effect on the immune function, it also can reduce postoperative complications and can be propitious to faster body recovery.