Natural killer cell activity following cryosurgery of normal and tumour bearing liver in an animal model.

Cryosurgery is a useful tool to treat unresectable liver carcinoma. In addition to the local effects of freezing, cryosurgery is thought to affect host immune response. We tested this by measuring natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity following cryosurgery of normal liver and an implanted liver tumour in the rat. Controls underwent sham cryosurgery. NK cytotoxicity was enhanced following cryosurgery of normal liver and liver tumour.