Intratumoural GM-CSF microspheres and CTLA-4 blockade enhance the antitumour immunity induced by thermal ablation in a subcutaneous murine hepatoma model.

Purpose: We evaluated the effect of a new antitumour immunity regimen that included microwave ablation, intratumoural microspheres encapsulating granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and blockade of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4).

Materials And Methods: C57BL6 mice with an established subcutaneous Hepa 1-6 hepatoma underwent microwave ablation, followed by intratumoural injection of GM-CSF microspheres, and intraperitoneal injection of anti-CTLA-4 antibodies. The therapeutic effects were evaluated by tumour growth, survival analysis, and cytotoxicity of T lymphocytes against Hepa 1-6.