TY - JOUR
T1 - Radiofrequency Thermal Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Stimulates Autologous NK-Cell Response
AU - Zerbini, Alessandro
AU - Pilli, Massimo
AU - Laccabue, Diletta
AU - Pelosi, Guido
AU - Molinari, Atim
AU - Negri, Elisa
AU - Cerioni, Simona
AU - Fagnoni, Francesco
AU - Soliani, Paolo
AU - Ferrari, Carlo
AU - Missale, Gabriele
PY - 2010/5
Y1 - 2010/5
N2 - Background & Aims: Radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive technique used as standard local therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma and second-line treatment for metastatic liver tumors. Studies in preclinical models and in patients have shown that thermal destruction of tumor tissue can enhance anti-tumor cellular responses, but our knowledge of its impact on natural killer (NK) cells is still very limited. Methods: Thirty-seven patients undergoing RFA for hepatocellular carcinoma were studied for peripheral blood lymphocytes counts followed by phenotypic and functional characterization of NK-cell population. Results: Peripheral blood lymphocytes kinetics revealed an increased frequency and absolute number of NK cells expressing higher levels of activatory along with reduced levels of inhibitory NK receptors, and increased functional NK-cell activity. A prevalent expansion of the CD3-CD56dim NK subset was observed compared to the CD3-CD56bright counterpart. Interferon-γ production, anti-K562 cell cytotoxicity, and antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity, appeared consistently increased in terms of both absolute activity and killing efficiency at 4 weeks after RFA, as compared to baseline. Interestingly, when recurrence-free survival was assessed in 2 groups of patients separated according to higher vs lower enhancement of cytotoxicity and/or interferon-γ production, a significant difference was observed, thus suggesting a potential predictive role of NK functional assays on efficacy of RFA. Conclusions: RFA can lead to stimulation of NK cells with a more differentiated and proactivatory phenotypic profile with general increase of functional activities. This observation may be relevant for development of adjuvant immunotherapeutic strategies aimed at enhancing NK-cell responses against primary and metastatic liver tumors.
AB - Background & Aims: Radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive technique used as standard local therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma and second-line treatment for metastatic liver tumors. Studies in preclinical models and in patients have shown that thermal destruction of tumor tissue can enhance anti-tumor cellular responses, but our knowledge of its impact on natural killer (NK) cells is still very limited. Methods: Thirty-seven patients undergoing RFA for hepatocellular carcinoma were studied for peripheral blood lymphocytes counts followed by phenotypic and functional characterization of NK-cell population. Results: Peripheral blood lymphocytes kinetics revealed an increased frequency and absolute number of NK cells expressing higher levels of activatory along with reduced levels of inhibitory NK receptors, and increased functional NK-cell activity. A prevalent expansion of the CD3-CD56dim NK subset was observed compared to the CD3-CD56bright counterpart. Interferon-γ production, anti-K562 cell cytotoxicity, and antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity, appeared consistently increased in terms of both absolute activity and killing efficiency at 4 weeks after RFA, as compared to baseline. Interestingly, when recurrence-free survival was assessed in 2 groups of patients separated according to higher vs lower enhancement of cytotoxicity and/or interferon-γ production, a significant difference was observed, thus suggesting a potential predictive role of NK functional assays on efficacy of RFA. Conclusions: RFA can lead to stimulation of NK cells with a more differentiated and proactivatory phenotypic profile with general increase of functional activities. This observation may be relevant for development of adjuvant immunotherapeutic strategies aimed at enhancing NK-cell responses against primary and metastatic liver tumors.
KW - Hepatocellular Carcinoma
KW - Natural Killer Cells
KW - Radiofrequency Thermal Ablation
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U2 - 10.1053/j.gastro.2009.12.051
DO - 10.1053/j.gastro.2009.12.051
M3 - Article
C2 - 20060829
AN - SCOPUS:77951689275
VL - 138
JO - Gastroenterology
JF - Gastroenterology
SN - 0016-5085
IS - 5
ER -