A novel strategy by cryoablation for advanced hepatoma.

Ablative techniques have been developed against advanced liver cancer in cases where surgical resection is impossible. Among the ablation procedures used, thermal ablation therapy is widely applied, and the safety and efficacy of this technique in controlling local progression of cancer have been well characterized. However, the principle of cryosurgery is not only to control local recurrence, but also to stimulate the immune system into initiating an antitumor response. In recent years, we have used a liquid nitrogen-based cryogenic procedure and developed a treatment method for patients with unresectable liver tumors. Following this, repeated treatment was demonstrated to induce anticancer immune reaction-related factors. In the present study, a novel strategy as a cryoablation-induced anti-cancer immune reaction is introduced.