Therapeutic effect of cryosurgery of murine osteosarcoma--influence on disease outcome and immune function.

Experiments comparing conventional operative treatment and cryosurgery of a murine osteosarcoma showed that local tumor destruction by freezing in situ was similar or superior to amputation concerning survival and formation of metastasis, depending on tumor stage. Limited local resection was less effective. Immune functions affected by cryosurgical tumor destruction included depression of natural killer cell activity and decrease of tumor-specific autologous IgG antibodies in the serum.