{
  "abstract": "Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, accounting for over 85% of primary liver cancers. Locoregional ablation techniques—encompassing thermal modalities such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA), and non-thermal approaches including cryoablation (CA) and irreversible electroporation (IRE)—have been established as standard-of-care options for early-stage HCC. Ablation induces immunogenic cell death (ICD), releasing tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that prime antitumor immunity; however, this response is transient and insufficient to overcome the immunosuppressive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), necessitating combination with immunotherapy. While preclinical evidence supports ablation-immunotherapy synergy across multiple platforms, robust phase III clinical data demonstrating survival benefit remain limited. This review systematically summarizes the immunological mechanisms underlying tumor ablation, and primarily discusses: (1) Modality-specific immune profiles—thermal ablation induces broad DAMP release but is limited by antigen denaturation and by incomplete ablation (iRFA), which associates with SUMO2-mediated IFN-I suppression, whereas non-thermal modalities (CA, IRE) preserve antigen conformation and engage multiple regulated cell death pathways; (2) Comprehensive combination strategies addressing three immunological barriers: innate APC licensing (PRR agonists, STING, GM-CSF, nanobiomaterials), T cell priming and trafficking (immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapy), and systemic memory durability (oncolytic viruses); (3) Critical mechanistic barriers to clinical translation: iRFA paradoxically couples residual tumor substrate with immunosuppression; the post-ablation immune activation window (3–14 days) remains clinically unexploited; and mechanistic understanding substantially outpaces clinical validation. Collectively, these advances support the continued development of personalized and precision-guided ablation–immunotherapy strategies for HCC.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Mini-invasive Interventional Therapy Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ying Liu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Linke Bian"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Hongye Wang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Dan Cui"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Zhaorong Wu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Bo Zhai"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8zw688fqtcmsh.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1007/s44178-026-00303-7",
  "fulltext_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s44178-026-00303-7",
  "id": "8zw688fqtcmsh",
  "issns": [
    "2731-4529"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s44178-026-00303-7",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "RC254-282"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2721|Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment and Prognosis"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222926240",
  "pdf_url": "https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s44178-026-00303-7.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-25",
  "publisher": "Springer",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8zw688fqtcmsh.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:46:35Z",
      "native_id": "aaed4a5b14004e4d9ddd70e46763b786",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s44178-026-00303-7"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "lcc:RC254-282",
      "subfield": "oncology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Synergistic strategies of tumor ablation and immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma: mechanisms, clinical translation, and perspectives",
  "title_text": "Synergistic strategies of tumor ablation and immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma: mechanisms, clinical translation, and perspectives",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T13:46:35Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8zw688fqtcmsh",
  "venue": "Holistic Integrative Oncology",
  "versions": []
}