Local hyperthermia treatment of tumors induces CD8⁺ T cell-mediated resistance against distal and secondary tumors

Combinatorial use of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) and an alternating magnetic field (AMF) can induce local hyperthermia in tumors in a controlled and uniform manner. Heating B16 primary tumors at 43°C for 30min activated dendritic cells (DCs) and subsequently CD8⁺ T cells in the draining lymph node (dLN) and conferred resistance against rechallenge with B16 (but not unrelated Lewis Lung carcinoma) given 7days post hyperthermia on both the primary tumor side and the contralateral side in a CD8⁺ T cell-dependent manner. Mice with heated primary tumors also resisted rechallenge given 30days post hyperthermia. Mice with larger heated primary tumors had greater resistance to secondary tumors. No rechallenge resistance occurred when tumors were heated at 45°C. Our results demonstrate the promising potential of local hyperthermia treatment applied to identified tumors in inducing anti-tumor immune responses that reduce the risk of recurrence and metastasis. From the Clinical Editor: Local heating of tumors via iron oxide NPs and an alternating magnetic field led to activation of anti-cancer CD8 T cells, which resulted in resistance against re-challenge and greater resistance to secondary tumors. Similar local heating-based strategies may become an important weapon in enhancing tumor elimination via a naturally existing but attenuated immune response.