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BMC Cancer

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01-12-2021 | Hepatocellular Carcinoma | Research article

Immunological effect of irreversible electroporation on hepatocellular carcinoma

Authors: Xiaoxia Guo, Fang Du, Qin Liu, Yan Guo, Qingbing Wang, Wei Huang, Zhongmin Wang, Xiaoyi Ding, Zhiyuan Wu

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

This study intends to investigate the immunological effects of tumor ablation with irreversible electroporation (IRE).

Methods

We evaluated the systemic immune response in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after IRE treatment. Furthermore, we analyzed the tumor infiltrating T lymphocytes and the level of serum cytokines in IRE and control groups of tumor-bearing mice.

Results

We observed that IRE induced an increase in WBC, neutrophil and monocyte counts and a decrease in lymphocyte count 1 day post-IRE and returned to baseline values within 7 days in the patients. Meanwhile, circulating CD4⁺ T cell subsets, but not CD8⁺, decreased 1 day post-IRE. The activated T cells and natural killer (NK) cells increased, and regulatory T (Treg) cells decreased. Furthermore, a significant increase in cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cells infiltration was observed on ablative tumors in mice. The level of serum IFN-γ also significantly increased in the IRE group.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that IRE upregulated activated T cells and downregulated Tregs in the peripheral blood of patients. Meanwhile, the results from the animal model indicated that IRE could induce antitumor adaptive immunity dominated by the infiltration of cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cells into the tumors, accompanied by reduced Tregs.

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Title: Immunological effect of irreversible electroporation on hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Xiaoxia Guo
Fang Du
Qin Liu
Yan Guo
Qingbing Wang
Wei Huang
Zhongmin Wang
Xiaoyi Ding
Zhiyuan Wu
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Published in: BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-021-08176-x

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Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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