Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 23, 2025

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

21.8K

Pharmacological targeting of natural killer cells for cancer immunotherapy

Kiho Miyazato1, Yoshihiro Hayakawa1

  • 1Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.

Cancer Science
|April 18, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Natural killer (NK) cells offer a promising avenue for cancer immunotherapy due to their rapid response to tumors. This review explores the potential of targeting NK cells to enhance cancer treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes crucial for early cancer surveillance.
  • Understanding NK cell biology, including differentiation, maturation, and effector functions, is key to harnessing their anti-cancer potential.
  • Cancer cells can evade NK cell-mediated immune surveillance through various mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current evidence on the role of NK cells in cancer immunotherapy.
  • To explore the molecular mechanisms of NK cell recognition and evasion by cancer cells.
  • To discuss the future potential of pharmacological targeting of NK cells for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent advances in NK cell biology and cancer immunology.
  • Analysis of molecular mechanisms of NK cell-cancer cell interactions.
  • Evaluation of clinical data from T-cell-targeted immunotherapies to inform NK cell-based strategies.

Main Results:

  • NK cells provide rapid, antigen-independent responses against cancer cells.
  • Elucidation of NK cell receptors, ligands, and evasion mechanisms offers therapeutic targets.
  • Recent successes in T-cell immunotherapy highlight the potential for NK cell-based approaches.

Conclusions:

  • NK cells represent a promising, yet not fully understood, component of cancer immunotherapy.
  • Pharmacological targeting of NK cells holds significant potential for developing novel cancer treatments.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate and optimize NK cell-based cancer immunotherapies.
Keywords:
NK cellanti-tumor immunityantibodyimmunotherapysmall molecule

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

1.6K
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

6.2K

Related Concept Videos

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...
6.3K
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...
8.5K
Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes01:25

Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes

Immune surveillance is an integral part of the innate immune system, involving the continuous monitoring of peripheral tissues to detect and respond to pathogens, infected cells, or cancerous cells. This surveillance is conducted primarily by natural killer (NK) cells and phagocytes, which employ distinct but complementary mechanisms to identify and eliminate threats.
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
7.6K
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.
1.7K
Cells of the Innate Immune Response01:28

Cells of the Innate Immune Response

The innate immune response is an immediate and non-specific response against pathogens, acting swiftly to prevent the spread of infections. The primary cells involved in this response are phagocytes and natural killer (NK) cells.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...
8.4K
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists01:28

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists

Neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptors are distributed across the GI tract, vagal afferents, and key CNS regions including the central vomiting center and chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) Chemotherapy agents stimulate enterochromaffin cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to release large amounts of substance P (SP). SP is a neuropeptide released by specific sensory nerves in response to many different stressors, including those in the GI mucosa affected by chemotherapy.  SP binds and activates...
451