Cryoimmunotherapy: Determination of a rational approach of the candidacy of the prostatic cancer patient

Cryosurgery has attained acceptance as one of the efficacious forms available in the therapeutic armamentarium for prostatic cancer. In addition to localized destruction, reports of secondary tumour cell destruction have supported the suggestion that cryosurgery may also be immunopotentiating. Although our understanding of immunopotentiation of the host's response to tumour via cryosurgery is not complete, information from experimental studies demonstrating that the immunologic response following cryosurgery of the prostate may be attributed to hormonally and ontogenically dependent autoantigens may have clinical relevance. Together with knowledge that in the therapeutic management of the prostatic cancer patient, we are confronted with the treatment of an individual, in the majority of cases, possessing waning immunocompetence, emphasizes the potential significance of evaluating what may be referred to as the 'cryosensitivity' of the prospective cryosurgical patient.