Thermal Ablative Therapies and Immune Checkpoint Modulation: Can Locoregional Approaches Effect a Systemic Response?

Figure 2

The method of tumor cell death following ablation plays a critical role in the downstream immunologic effects. Apoptosis results in the organized breakdown of dying cells into apoptotic bodies and does not release damage-associated molecular patterns such as DNA, HSPs, or uric acid as is seen with necrosis. Without the subsequent dendritic cell activation, T-cells do not receive costimulatory signals and therefore undergo anergy and clonal deletion.