There are no official guidelines to assist in answering this question. I will search for relevant research papers instead.
From the Research
Cryotherapy and Melanoma Aggressiveness
- There is no direct evidence to suggest that cryotherapy (cryosurgery) increases the aggressiveness of melanoma 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
- Studies have shown that cryotherapy can be an effective treatment for melanoma, with high cure rates and durable anti-tumor immunity 2, 3, 4, 5.
- Cryo-thermal therapy has been shown to induce macrophage polarization, leading to durable anti-tumor immunity and long-term survival 2.
- Cryosurgery has been used to treat advanced malignant melanoma of the facial skin, with good aesthetic results and no recurrence or distant disease after two years 4.
- Laser ablation and cryotherapy have been used to ablate cutaneous melanoma metastases, with good results and potential for palliation of individual lesions 5.
Mechanisms of Cryotherapy
- Cryo-thermal therapy induces macrophage polarization to the M1 phenotype, leading to durable anti-tumor immunity 2.
- Cryosurgery can modulate the phenotypic and functional maturation of dendritic cells, increasing pro-inflammatory cytokine production and downregulating immuno-inhibitory molecule expression 2.
- Cryotherapy can lead to the generation of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and CD4+ T-cell differentiation into Th1 and cytotoxic T-cell sub-lineages 2.