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Updated: Sep 29, 2025

Analysis of Human T Cell Activity in an Allogeneic Co-Culture Setting of Pre-Treated Tumor Cells
Published on: March 7, 2025
Roles of NKT cells in cancer immunotherapy
Eun-Ah Bae1, Hyungseok Seo1,2, Il-Kyu Kim1,2
1Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, and College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as an effective therapeutic strategy to treat cancer. Among diverse immune populations, invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells have shown potent antitumor activity by linking innate and adaptive immune systems. Upon activation by lipid antigens on CD1d molecules, iNKT cells rapidly produce various cytokines and trigger antitumor immunity directly or indirectly by activating other antitumor immune cells. Administration of a representative iNKT cell ligand alpha-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) or α-GalCer-pulsed APCs effectively stimulates iNKT cells and thereby induces antitumor effects. In this review, we will introduce the biology and importance of NKT cells in antitumor immunity. Previous studies have demonstrated that iNKT cells not only activate various immune cells but also reinvigorate exhausted immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, we will summarize the major clinical trials utilizing iNKT-based immunotherapies.
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