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Natural Killer (NK) and CAR-NK Cell Expansion Method using Membrane Bound-IL-21-Modified B Cell Line
Published on: February 8, 2022
Natural killer cell lines in tumor immunotherapy
Min Cheng1, Jian Zhang, Wen Jiang
1Institute of Immunology, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China.
Abstract:
Natural killer (NK) cells are considered to be critical players in anticancer immunity. However, cancers are able to develop mechanisms to escape NK cell attack or to induce defective NK cells. Current NK cell-based cancer immunotherapy is aimed at overcoming NK cell paralysis through several potential approaches, including activating autologous NK cells, expanding allogeneic NK cells, usage of stable allogeneic NK cell lines and genetically modifying fresh NK cells or NK cell lines. The stable allogeneic NK cell line approach is more practical for quality-control and large-scale production. Additionally, genetically modifying NK cell lines by increasing their expression of cytokines and engineering chimeric tumor antigen receptors could improve their specificity and cytotoxicity. In this review, NK cells in tumor immunotherapy are discussed, and a list of therapeutic NK cell lines currently undergoing preclinical and clinical trials of several kinds of tumors are reviewed.
Insights
Natural killer (NK) cells are vital for fighting cancer, but tumors can evade them. This review explores NK cell therapies, including stable cell lines and genetic modifications, to enhance cancer immunotherapy effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial for anti-cancer immunity.
- Cancers develop mechanisms to evade NK cell attacks or induce NK cell dysfunction.
- Current immunotherapies aim to overcome NK cell evasion and dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of NK cells in tumor immunotherapy.
- To discuss strategies for overcoming NK cell evasion in cancer.
- To list therapeutic NK cell lines in preclinical and clinical trials.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on NK cell-based cancer immunotherapy.
- Analysis of strategies including autologous NK cell activation, allogeneic NK cell expansion, and use of NK cell lines.
- Examination of genetic modification techniques for enhancing NK cell function (cytokine expression, chimeric antigen receptors).
Main Results:
- Stable allogeneic NK cell lines offer practical advantages for quality control and large-scale production.
- Genetic modification of NK cell lines can improve specificity and cytotoxicity.
- Various therapeutic NK cell lines are progressing through preclinical and clinical trials for different tumor types.
Conclusions:
- NK cell-based therapies hold significant promise for cancer treatment.
- Stable, genetically modified NK cell lines represent a practical and potentially potent approach to cancer immunotherapy.
- Further research and clinical trials are essential to optimize NK cell therapy efficacy.
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