Genomic DNA methylation profiling indicates immune response following thermal ablation treatment for HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma.Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer in China.  Thermal ablation is one of the main strategies for HCC treatment.  However, few studies have investigated the properties of the immune response following thermal ablation thus far.  Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected at three time points: Prior to thermal ablation (PR), 1-3 days post-ablation (P1) and 5-7 days post-ablation (P7).  The present study suggested that PBMC DNA methylation had changed soon after thermal ablation for subjects with HBV-associated HCC, and systemic immune responses were activated, particularly at the P7 time point.
THERM