Recent comprehensive investigations clarified that immune microenvironment surrounding tumor cells are deeplyinvolved in tumor progression, metastasis, and response to treatment. Furthermore, several immunotherapeutic trialshave achieved successful results, and the immunotherapeutic agents are available in clinical practice. To enhancetheir demonstrated efficacy, combination of immunotherapy and ablation has begun to emerge. Local ablationshave considerable advantages as an alternative therapeutic option, especially its minimal invasiveness. In addition,local ablations have shown immune-regulatory effect in preclinical and clinical studies. Although the correspondingmechanisms are still unclear, the local ablations combined with immunotherapy have been suggested in the treatmentof several solid malignancies. This article aims to review the published data on the immune-regulatory effectsof local ablations including stereotactic body radiotherapy, cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation, and high-intensityfocusedultrasound. We also discuss the value of local ablations combined with immunotherapy. Local ablations havethe potential to improve future patient outcomes; however, the effectiveness and safety of local ablations combinedwith immunotherapy should be further investigated.

Students in all years, including those in lower years, were prohibited from coming to campus because of COVID-19, which began to spread in January 2020. However, we believed that a hospital tour and observership would be important practical training for first and second year medical students as part of the early exposure program, which aims to increase student motivation. Thus, we decided to conduct a virtual hospital tour and a virtual observation of medical doctors’ work. We used Zoom to conduct a virtual hospital tour for first-year students in June, and a virtual observation of physicians’ work for second-year students in December. Although this offered less of an opportunity to experience the reality of the clinic, there have been benefits in terms of increased learning content, fairness of learning opportunities delivered, and the promotion of independent learning. With regard to a “Hospital Tour” and the “Observation of Medical Doctors’ Work” , we believe that hybrid forms, which are able to skillfully combine the strengths of the two methods, would be effective.