Qi Xudong, Zhu Zewen, Tacke Frank, Yin Ming
Department of Ultrasound Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou, China.
Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte and Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Berlin, Germany.
Transl Cancer Res. 2025 Jun 30;14(6):3746-3757. doi: 10.21037/tcr-2025-915. Epub 2025 Jun 23.
Thermal ablation for orthotopic tumors can activate the immune system, eliciting tumor-specific immune responses. With the recognition of the immune system's role in cancer outcomes and the demand for effective immunotherapies, there is a clinical need to optimize ablation techniques to enhance anti-tumor immunity. This study evaluates the effects of microwave ablation (MWA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) at varying powers and durations on systemic T cell profiles and cytokine levels.
Subcutaneous murine hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) models were established. A total of 50 mice were randomly allocated into five groups, with 10 mice in each group: high-power MWA (10 W, 30 s), low-power MWA (5 W, 60 s), high-power RFA (10 W, 30 s), low-power RFA (5 W, 60 s), and untreated control group. Peripheral CD3CD4 and CD3CD8 T cells, along with cytokines including interleukin (IL)-12, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), IL-4, and IL-10, were determined 14 and 28 days after the ablation.
High-power (10 W) ablation boosted adaptive immunity on day 14 post-procedure, manifested as significantly elevated CD3CD4 and CD3CD8 T cells and a Th1-skewed immune response (increased IL-12 level and decreased IL-4 and IL-10 levels). By day 28, the CD3CD4 T cells had risen further, although the CD3CD8 T cells had declined; additionally, the IL-10 level remained low, the IL-12 level normalized, and IFN-γ was stable.
High-power MWA and RFA can notably activate systemic immunity and enhance Th1 response. These findings underscore the potential of optimizing ablation parameters (such as higher power and shorter duration) to amplify anti-tumor immunity, bridging local tumor control with systemic immune activation.
原位肿瘤的热消融可激活免疫系统，引发肿瘤特异性免疫反应。随着对免疫系统在癌症转归中作用的认识以及对有效免疫疗法的需求，临床上需要优化消融技术以增强抗肿瘤免疫力。本研究评估了不同功率和持续时间的微波消融（MWA）和射频消融（RFA）对全身T细胞谱和细胞因子水平的影响。
建立皮下小鼠肝细胞癌（HCC）模型。总共50只小鼠被随机分为五组，每组10只：高功率MWA组（10 W，30秒）、低功率MWA组（5 W，60秒）、高功率RFA组（10 W，30秒）、低功率RFA组（5 W，60秒）和未治疗的对照组。在消融后14天和28天测定外周血CD3CD4和CD3CD8 T细胞以及包括白细胞介素（IL）-12、干扰素-γ（IFN-γ）、IL-4和IL-10在内的细胞因子。
高功率（10 W）消融在术后第14天增强了适应性免疫，表现为CD3CD4和CD3CD8 T细胞显著升高以及Th1型免疫反应倾斜（IL-12水平升高，IL-4和IL-10水平降低）。到第28天，CD3CD4 T细胞进一步升高，尽管CD3CD8 T细胞有所下降；此外，IL-10水平仍然较低，IL-12水平恢复正常，IFN-γ稳定。
高功率MWA和RFA可显著激活全身免疫并增强Th1反应。这些发现强调了优化消融参数（如更高功率和更短持续时间）以增强抗肿瘤免疫力的潜力，将局部肿瘤控制与全身免疫激活联系起来。
