Combinatorial ablation and immunotherapy

Combinatorial ablation and immunotherapy is an oncological treatment that combines various tumor-ablation techniques with immunotherapy treatment.^[1][2][3][4] Combining ablation therapy of tumors with immunotherapy enhances the immunostimulating response and has synergistic effects for curative metastatic cancer treatment.^[2][3] Various ablative techniques are utilized including cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation, laser ablation, photodynamic ablation, stereotactic radiation therapy, hyperthermia therapy, HIFU.^{[5][6] [7] [8][9][10]} Thus, combinatorial ablation of tumors and immunotherapy is a way of achieving autologous, in-vivo tumor lysate vaccine and treat metastatic disease.

Mechanism of action

Partially or entirely ablating primary or secondary metastatic tumors induces necrosis of tumor cells, resulting in the release of antigens and presentation of antigens to the immune system. The released tumor antigens help activate anti-tumor T cells, which can destroy remaining malignant cells in local and distant tumors. Combining immunotherapy (ie: checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapy) and vaccine adjuvants (ie: interferon, saponin) with ablation synergizes the immune reaction, and can treat metastatic disease with curative intent. ^{[3] [11][12] [13] [14][15]}

Ablation therapies

Various local ablation therapies exist to induce necrosis of tumor cells and release tumor antigens for an immunological response, this is combined with immunotherapy:

• Thermal ablation - local thermal ablation of tumor:
  • Cryoablation
  • Radiofrequency ablation
  • High-intensity focused ultrasound ablation
  • Laser ablation
  • Photodynamic ablation
  • Hyperthermia therapy

See also

• Cryoimmunology
• Photoimmunotherapy

References