Publication Name	World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology
Manuscript ID	118976
Country	China

Category	Oncology
Manuscript Type	Review
Article Title	Cryoablation remodels the immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma: From mechanistic insights to clinical translation in combination immunotherapy
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Jia-Ju Xu, Chun-Xiao Ni, Li-Dong Qin, Ping Wang and Jia-Ju Xu
Funding Agency and Grant Number	Funding Agency Grant Number the Scientific Research Fund of Tai’an Science and Technology Agency 2019NS180
Corresponding Author	Jia-Ju Xu, MD, Department of Medical Oncology, Tai’an City Central Hospital, Tai’an City Central Hospital, Tai’an, No. 29, Longtan Road, Shandong, China., Tai’an 271000, Shandong Province, China. jiajuxu1101@163.com
Key Words	Hepatocellular carcinoma; Cryoablation; Tumor microenvironment; Immunotherapy; Immunogenic cell death; Combination therapy
Core Tip	Cryoablation exerts a dual and exploitable immunomodulatory effect in hepatocellular carcinoma. It can function as an in situ vaccine by inducing immunogenic cell death, yet simultaneously triggers a transient immunosuppressive response. This duality is strategically exploited by combining cryoablation with systemic immune checkpoint inhibitors to remodel the immunosuppressive “cold” tumor microenvironment. Therapeutic success depends critically on ablation completeness, technical parameters, and host immune status. To fully realize its clinical potential, future efforts must focus on overcoming challenges in patient stratification and treatment sequencing through the development of predictive biomarkers and optimized combination protocols.
Citation	Xu JJ, Ni CX, Qin LD, Wang P, Xu JJ. Cryoablation remodels the immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma: From mechanistic insights to clinical translation in combination immunotherapy. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; In press

Received	2026-01-16 06:06
Peer-Review Started	2026-01-16 06:16
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-01-29 09:22
Return for Revision	2026-01-29 09:26
Revised	2026-02-04 04:12
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2026-02-11 02:38
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-02-11 06:05
Articles in Press	2026-02-11 06:05
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1948-5204 (online)
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