Efficacy of argon‐helium cryoablation and its effects on immune function of patients with neck malignant tumours

Abstract

The incidence of neck tumours accounts for 5% of all malignant tumours in the whole body in China. 1 The neck is an important hub connecting the brain and the upper limb trunk, with a complex anatomical structure, and the tumours in the region tend to invade the surrounding blood vessels, nerves, skulls and other tissues. Most of the tumours have peripheral lymph node metastasis in the early stage, with obvious compression and irritation symptoms, and over 70% of the patients are in the late stage after diagnosis who are unable to receive surgical intervention. 2 For stage I and II patients who can undergo surgery, due to the small surgical space, the need to expand to the surrounding tissue easily causes great trauma, and in serious cases, disability, and loss of function, which seriously affects the normal life of postoperative patients. Therefore, clinical research in recent years has focused on finding methods to reduce the impact of surgery on patients with neck tumour. To date, the main methods for the treatment of neck tumours include surgery and radiotherapy, among which radiotherapy is a commonly used treatment. But because of sensitivity of tumour tissue to radiotherapy and other factors, radiotherapy fails to completely kill the tumour tissue, not to mention the toxicity and side effects of radiotherapy that cause negative impact on the body of patients. 3

Cryoablation inhibits the recurrence and progression of bladder cancer by enhancing tumour‐specific immunity

“… 28 , 29 , 30 Currently, the most commonly used equipment is the argon‐helium cryoablation system, which is designed with a cryoprobe to puncture and freeze the tissue within and around the tumours. 31 , 32 However, percutaneous cryoablation devices are not suitable for treating tumours in hollow organs, as sharp and rigid cryoprobes can easily lead to organ perforation. The EBCA procedure can be directly observed and is safe and effective.…”

“…The clinical application of cryoablation has been largely restricted to solid tumours in the liver, breast, kidney, skin, and other solid organs 28–30 . Currently, the most commonly used equipment is the argon‐helium cryoablation system, which is designed with a cryoprobe to puncture and freeze the tissue within and around the tumours 31,32 . However, percutaneous cryoablation devices are not suitable for treating tumours in hollow organs, as sharp and rigid cryoprobes can easily lead to organ perforation.…”

Argon–Helium Cryoablation for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Elderly

“…Furthermore, the repeated freeze-thaw cycle causes membrane disruption of the tumor cells, which promotes releasing of the hidden tumor-derived self-antigens into the circulation, stimulates antibody production, and activates the antitumor immunity of the body (15,16). Various studies indicate the anti-neoplastic and immune-logical effects of argon-helium cryoablation (17,18).…”