Science to Practice: The Changing Face of Local Tumor Therapies-Do We Have to Think Systemically When Treating Cancer Locally?

In this issue, Rozenblum et al ( 1 ) were able to demonstrate that radiofrequency (RF) ablation-induced liver regeneration promotes "off-target" tumorigenesis in a MDR2 knock-out mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the setting of chronic liver inflammation. In addition, the authors demonstrated that blocking liver regeneration with a c-met inhibitor might attenuate or eliminate potential tumorigenic effects. These results provide the rationale for combined therapeutic approaches of RF ablation followed by a systemic application of immunomodulatory drugs.