Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 18, 2026

Flow Cytometry-based Assay for the Monitoring of NK Cell Functions
08:17

Flow Cytometry-based Assay for the Monitoring of NK Cell Functions

Published on: October 30, 2016

22.1K

Boosting Natural Killer Cell-Based Immunotherapy with Anticancer Drugs: a Perspective

Loredana Cifaldi1, Franco Locatelli2, Emiliano Marasco3

  • 1Department of Pediatric Haematology/Oncology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

Trends in Molecular Medicine
|November 15, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Natural killer (NK) cell immunotherapy shows promise against cancer. Restoring NK cell-activating ligands on tumor cells using anticancer drugs can enhance NK cell antitumor activity, potentially improving immunotherapy outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial for recognizing and eliminating tumor cells.
  • NK cell-based immunotherapy is a promising cancer treatment approach.
  • Tumors evade NK cell attacks by downregulating activating ligands.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore strategies for restoring NK cell-activating ligands on tumor cells.
  • To investigate the potential of anticancer drugs in enhancing NK cell immunotherapy.
  • To propose a novel combination therapy for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Review of mechanisms by which NK cells kill tumor cells.
  • Analysis of tumor immune evasion strategies.
  • Evaluation of how anticancer drugs affect NK cell-activating ligand expression.

Main Results:

  • Anticancer drugs can restore the expression of NK cell-activating ligands on tumor cells.
  • Restoring these ligands can overcome tumor immune evasion.
  • This restoration enhances NK cell-mediated antitumor activity.

Conclusions:

  • Restoring NK cell-activating ligands is a key therapeutic goal.
  • Anticancer drugs can be utilized to achieve this restoration.
  • Combining chemotherapy with NK cell adoptive transfer offers a novel cancer immunotherapy strategy.
Keywords:
NK cell adoptive transferactivating NK receptorschemotherapyligands for NK cell-activating receptors

More Related Videos

Advances in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Expressing Natural Killer Cells11:08

Advances in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Expressing Natural Killer Cells

Published on: February 14, 2025

1.9K
Natural Killer NK and CAR-NK Cell Expansion Method using Membrane Bound-IL-21-Modified B Cell Line11:02

Natural Killer NK and CAR-NK Cell Expansion Method using Membrane Bound-IL-21-Modified B Cell Line

Published on: February 8, 2022

6.4K

Related Concept Videos

Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
2.0K
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
7.6K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
9.0K
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
6.2K
Cancer Vaccines01:30

Cancer Vaccines

Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
1.1K