Immune abscopal effect of microwave ablation for lung metastases of endometrial carcinoma

Increasing evidence support that microwave ablation (MWA) induces spontaneous abscopal regression of the tumor, also called as the abscopal effect. Although the abscopal effect after MWA is a rare event, several studies have suggested that this effect is the result of the activation of the immune system induced by the death of immunogenic tumor cells. Here, we have presented the case of a 65-year-old woman with primary endometrial cancer who developed bilateral pulmonary metastases. After local MWA of one lesion in her right lung, progressive regression of the other lesions in the right and left lungs was recorded. This case supports the hypothesis that the abscopal effect is attributable to the activation of the systemic immune response.