To determine whether conventional hyperthermia (42-45℃) or ablation therapy (＞50℃) achieves better synergistic effects on direct cytotoxicity and anti-tumor immunity,we compared the therapeutic effects of two hyperthermia temperatures,43 and 55℃,in terms of cytotoxicity and upregulation of immune functions in a mouse malignant melanoma model.Melanoma-bearing mice were treated by directly applying regional hyperthermia to the tumor nodule with a heating light at a temperature of 43℃ for 30 min or 55℃ for 10 min.The tumor growth curve and mice survival rate were observed.To investigate the hyperthermia-induced immunological response,peripheral blood CD4~+ and CD8~+ T cells and the serum IL-2 level were determined.Our results indicated that application of regional hyperthermia at the ablation temperature (such as 55℃) achieved better synergistic anti-tumor effects than did conventional hyperthermia (43℃).Significant increases in the number of peripheral blood CD4~+ T cells and the serum IL-2 level likely contributed to the underlying mechanism.