Changes in immunocompetent cells after interstitial laser thermotherapy of breast cancer

Abstract

BackgroundLocal tumour destruction has been shown to give rise to changes in immunocompetent cells. The aim of this study was to describe the effect of interstitial laser thermotherapy (ILT) of breast carcinoma in the tumour and in regional lymph nodes.MethodsSeventeen women that underwent radical surgical excision after non-radical ILT were studied. ILT was performed at a steady-state temperature of 48°C for 30 min. Surgical excision was performed 12 (6–23) days after ILT. Six patients with breast cancer not treated with ILT before surgery served as controls. Immunohistological reactions were performed on core needle biopsies prior to treatment and on the excised specimens.ResultsILT resulted in more CD8 lymphocytes and CD68 macrophages within the tumour (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively) and higher counts of CD20 (P < 0.05), CD68 (P < 0.001) and CD83 (P < 0.01) at the tumour border, when compared to pre-treatment values. In the control patients not receiving ILT, CD8 cells increased within the tumour after resection (P < 0.05). With the probable exception of CD25 Foxp3 cells, the presence of cancer in a lymph node influenced the findings in lymph nodes (examined for CD1a, CD25, Foxp3 CD25, CD83 cells). Thus, comparisons between ILT and control patients were restricted to patients without lymph node metastases. In these patients, ILT and resection were followed by a decrease in CD25 Foxp3 lymphocytes (P < 0.05), when compared to surgical resection alone.ConclusionsILT induced changes in immunocompetent cells in patients with breast cancer. The stimulation of the immune system is an added feature of ILT in treatment of patients with breast cancer.

Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy Induces Robust Local Immune Response for Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma With Long-term Survival and Disease Control

“…Shin et al also demonstrated increased levels of IFN-γ between 2- and 4 weeks postoperation in 2 patients that underwent LITT 5 . This is consistent with the timeline of increased blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability due to LITT presented by Leuthardt et al 2 Haraldsdóttir et al found that LITT-treated breast cancer patients experience increased lymphocyte infiltration within the tumor area and decreased T reg cells in regional tumor-free lymph nodes 9 . In vitro and mouse studies on hyperthermia and its effects on the anti-tumor immune response point to a need for a better understanding of how LITT may mechanistically impact immune responses in patients 1 …”

“…5 This is consistent with the timeline of increased blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability due to LITT presented by Leuthardt et al 2 Haraldsdóttir et al found that LITT-treated breast cancer patients experience increased lymphocyte infiltration within the tumor area and decreased T reg cells in regional tumor-free lymph nodes. 9 In vitro and mouse studies on hyperthermia and its effects on the antitumor immune response point to a need for a better understanding of how LITT may mechanistically impact immune responses in patients. 1 Prospective clinical studies using LITT and immunotherapy will allow us to correlate these mechanisms to patient survival and optimize immunotherapy for GBM.…”

Laser Ablation and Immune Stimulating Interstitial Laser Thermotherapy

“…A number of pre-marketing clinical studies on imILT were performed at Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden, where the method was developed for the first time. These studies demonstrated the recruitment of immunocompetent cells in breast cancer patients which indicate a favorable antitumor activity [23][24][25][26][27].…”

Local Destruction of Tumors and Systemic Immune Effects

“…In patients with breast cancer, imILT induced an increase of CD8 lymphocytes within the tumor, an increase of mature CD83 DCs and CD20 B cells at the tumor border and a decrease of T reg lymphocytes in regional lymph nodes ( 84 ). Vogl and coworkers reported that laser-mediated thermotherapy of colorectal liver metastases induced a tumor-specific T cell stimulation (CD4, CD8) and increased cytolytic activity of T cells against an allogenic tumor ( 85 ).…”