Thermal ablation and immunomodulation: From preclinical experiments to clinical trials

Abstract

Accumulating evidence has shown that thermal ablation can induce spontaneous distant tumor regression, which is also known as abscopal effect. Abscopal effect might depend upon the activation of antitumor immune response. However, such responses induced by thermal ablation had been thought to be usually weak and that they rarely induce distant tumor regression. Recently, results of several preclinical and clinical studies have suggested that thermal ablation can induce therapeutically effective systemic antitumor immune response if appropriate immunomodulators are combined. To elucidate the mechanisms of these promising strategies, effects of thermal ablation on the immune system are overviewed. Furthermore, recent promising preclinical and clinical studies examining enhancement of systemic antitumor immune response by combining thermal ablation and immunomodulation are summarized.

Integrative Medicine in Interventional Oncology: A Virtuous Alliance

“…Interestingly, experimental studies in mice have demonstrated significant inhibition of tumor growth after combining curcumin with percutaneous cryoablation [20]. These results are supported by several preclinical and clinical studies demonstrating that percutaneous ablations combined with appropriate immunomodulators can induce a therapeutically effective systemic anti-tumor immune response [21]. However, as some supplements or herbs can interfere with certain medications by altering their absorption, metabolism, or excretion, all treatment plans must be discussed to ensure that all practitioners are aware of this medication.…”

Polymer-assisted intratumoral delivery of ethanol: Preclinical investigation of safety and efficacy in a murine breast cancer model

“…More fluorescein was retained in the tumor when EC was included with ethanol injections, thus hydrophobic molecules with similar size and polarity to fluorescein such as paclitaxel, docetaxel, and tamoxifen may behave similarly in solution with EC-ethanol. Combining ablation with chemotherapy could potentially create a more robust response compared to either one alone (35).…”

Treatment of Primary Liver Tumors and Liver Metastases, Part 2: Non–Nuclear Medicine Techniques

“…Although the goals of tumor ablation by IO are similar to resection, ablation differs in that the tumor material is left in situ. Thus, similar to radiation therapy, ablation may trigger a systemic antitumor immune response whereas surgery would not (56,57). Accumulating evidence has shown that thermal ablation can induce distant tumor regression or progression (58).…”