Fig. 4.

NK-cell-related cytokines were detected after microwave ablation of primary breast cancer in a BALB/c mouse-derived transplantable 4T1 tumor model. a Heat map of nine NK-cell-related serum cytokines 7 and 14 days after treatment in the MWA, surgery, and control groups. MWA of primary tumors induced NK-cell-related cytokine profiles completely different from those seen in the surgery and control groups (n = 10 mice for each group). b–j Quantification of the average levels of the NK-cell-related cytokines in the three groups 7 and 14 days after treatment. For all panels, data are plotted as the mean ± SD. P values were calculated using a parametric test (*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001)