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The NK cell-cancer cycle: advances and new challenges in NK cell-based immunotherapies

Tobias Bald1, Matthew F Krummel2, Mark J Smyth3

  • 1Oncology and Cellular Immunology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia.

Nature Immunology
|July 22, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial for innate immunity and cancer control. This review explores NK cell-based cancer immunotherapies, highlighting advances and challenges in harnessing their therapeutic potential.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Natural killer (NK) cells are key components of the innate immune system.
  • NK cells eliminate infected, foreign, stressed, or cancerous cells.
  • They also regulate antitumor immune responses through cellular cross-talk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in NK cell biology relevant to cancer.
  • To discuss current and emerging NK cell-based cancer immunotherapies.
  • To highlight progress and challenges in the field.

Main Methods:

  • Review of preclinical and clinical studies on NK cell-based cancer therapies.
  • Analysis of strategies including adoptive transfer, direct stimulation, and TME modulation.
  • Introduction of the NK cell-cancer cycle concept.

Main Results:

  • NK cell-based therapies are actively being developed for cancer treatment.
  • Strategies focus on enhancing NK cell activity, recruitment, and overcoming inhibitory signals.
  • Modulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) is crucial for effective NK cell function.

Conclusions:

  • NK cells hold significant therapeutic promise for various cancers.
  • Further research is needed to overcome challenges in NK cell therapy development.
  • Optimizing NK cell function within the TME is critical for successful immunotherapy.

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