Immunological effect of irreversible electroporation on hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract Background This study intends to investigate the immunological effects of tumor ablation with irreversible electroporation (IRE). Methods We evaluated systemic immune response in patients hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after IRE treatment. Furthermore, we analyzed infiltrating T lymphocytes and level serum cytokines control groups tumor-bearing mice. Results observed that induced an increase WBC, neutrophil monocyte counts a decrease lymphocyte count 1 day post-IRE returned baseline values within 7 days patients. Meanwhile, circulating CD4 + cell subsets, but not CD8 , decreased post-IRE. The activated cells natural killer (NK) increased, regulatory (Treg) decreased. significant cytotoxic infiltration was on ablative tumors IFN-? also significantly increased group. Conclusions Our demonstrated upregulated downregulated Tregs peripheral blood results from animal model indicated could induce antitumor adaptive immunity dominated by into tumors, accompanied reduced Tregs.