History and evolution of immunotherapeutic effect of cryoablation of solid tumors

Cryoablation as a locoregional treatment for cancer has seen great advances over the past century. As a local thermal ablative method, cryoablation is unique in that it preserves tumor associated antigens, releasing them into the circulation and allowing the immune system to mount a targeted, systemic anti-cancer response in a phenomenon known as the abscopal effect. Advances in our understanding of tumor biology and cancer immunology have simultaneously led to the development of various anti-cancer immunotherapies. Whether through stimulating an immune response or inhibiting immunosuppression, these therapies have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of numerous cancers and represent a new frontier in cancer treatment. In recent years, several pre-clinical and clinical studies have sought to elucidate the potential synergy between combination immunotherapy and cryoablation with the hope of augmenting the abscopal effect. This emerging field of “cryoimmune” therapy, although still in its infancy, represents an exciting new direction in cancer treatment.