Review Article

More Than Just Tumor Destruction: Immunomodulation by Thermal Ablation of Cancer

Table 2

Studies reporting immune modulation in cancer patients and animal models treated with RF ablation.

SpeciesTumorModelImmunologic effectReferences

HumanHCC ( )HSP-70, HSP-90 (cytoplasm, membrane)↑[62]
HCC ( )Activation of myeloid dendritic cells (blood)[51]
IL-1β, TNF (serum)↑
HCC ( )CD4+ and CD8+ cells (blood)↑[70]
CD3-CD56+, CD56+CD16+ cells (blood)↑
Activity of tumor-specific T cells↑
HCC ( )CD3-CD cells (blood)↑[67]
Activity of CD3-CD cells↑
HCC ( )Tumor-antigen specific T cells (blood)↑[77]
RCC ( )CD3+HLA-DR+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells (blood)↑[71]
CD56+CD16+cells (blood)
Liver metastases ( )Neutrophils (blood)↑[66]
HCC ( )
Liver metastases ( )CD4+ and CD8+ cells (blood)↑[76]
HCC ( )
Liver metastases of CRCIL-6 (serum)↑[52]
( )
Liver metastases ( )IL-6 (serum)↑[53]
HCC ( )
Liver metastases ( )CD4+ cells (blood)[75]
HCC ( )MUC-1 specific T cells (blood)↑
B cells (blood)↑ (only in metastatic cancer patients)
Trafficking of CD62L+ T cells into tissues
Lung metastases ( )IL-8, MIP-1α, MIP-1β (serum)↑[54]
NSCLC ( )IL-10 (serum)↑
CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells (blood)
Neutrophils (blood)↑
Liver metastases ( )IL-6 (serum)↑[133]
HCC ( )IL-10 (serum)↑
Metastases ( )± chemotherapyCD4+ and CD8+ responses against tumor-specific[78]
Primary tumors ( )antigens (blood)↑
Metastases ( )Tumor-specific antibodies (serum)↑
HCC ( )HSP-70 (serum)↑[63]
RCC ( )

MouseCRCCT26 hEpCam ± huKS-IL2Antitumor activity (splenocytes)↑[74]
(BALB/c)Tumor growth (distant tumor)
Tumor growth (rechallenge)
C26CD4+ cells (perinecrotic)↑[65]
Neutrophils (perinecrotic)↑
Neutrophils and lymphocytes (distant metastases)↑
HCCBNL ± CCL3CD11c+ cells (blood)↑[73]
CD11c+ cells (tumor)↑
CD4+ and CD8+ cells (tumor)↑
Tumor-specific cells (tumor)↑
Tumor growth (distant tumor)
Tumor growth (rechallenge)

MouseMelanomaB16-OVA ± CTLA4-mAbCD8+ tumor-antigen specific T cells (blood)↑[72]
(C57BL/6)± Treg depletionTumor growth (rechallenge)
B16-OVA ± CTLA4-mAbAntigen loaded DC, DC maturation (draining[69]
lymphnodes)↑
Tumor growth (rechallenge)
B16-OVA ± DCHSP-70, gp96 (tumor)↑[57]
HMGB1 (tumor)↑
CD8+ tumor-specific T cells (spleen, draining
lymph nodes)↑
Local recurrence
Tumor growth (rechallenge)
Urothelial carcinomaMB49 ± DCCD4+, CD8+ antitumor responses (splenocytes)↑[49]
CD11c+cells (tumor)↑
Tumor growth (rechallenge)

MouseCRCHT29HSP-70 mRNA (cytoplasm)↑[56]
(NIH (S)-nu)

RabbitHepatomaVX2Lymphocytes, plasma cells, and neutrophils[68]
(tumor)↑
Tumor-specific T cells (blood)↑

Rat (Fisher)MammaryMatBIIICD161+ cells (tumor-surrounding tissue)↑[61]
HSP-70 (tumor-surrounding tissue)↑
R3230 ± liposomalHSP-70 (around central coagulation zone)↑[59]
doxorubicin

Rat (rNU)HepatomaSK-HEP-1HSP-70, HSP-90 (cytoplasm, membrane)↑[55]