Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 7, 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

21.7K

Mechanisms of NK cell dysfunction in the tumor microenvironment and current clinical approaches to harness NK cell

Raynier Devillier1,2,3, Anne-Sophie Chrétien1,2, Thomas Pagliardini1,2,3

  • 1Immunity and Cancer Team, Paoli-Calmettes Institute, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CRCM, Marseille, France.

Journal of Leukocyte Biology
|September 29, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial for fighting cancer. This review details NK cell changes in cancer patients and strategies to enhance NK cell immunotherapies for better cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells with intrinsic cancer cell recognition and killing abilities.
  • NK cell phenotypes and functions are increasingly understood in various cancer types, highlighting their role in antitumor immunity.
  • Advances in NK cell biology offer new ways to leverage their anticancer potential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review NK cell alterations contributing to immune evasion in cancer.
  • To outline strategies for enhancing NK cell-based immunotherapies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of NK cell alterations in cancer.
  • Analysis of current and emerging NK cell immunotherapy strategies.

Main Results:

  • NK cell alterations can facilitate cancer immune evasion.
  • Pharmacologic modulation and genetic modification are key strategies to improve NK cell immunotherapy.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding NK cell alterations is vital for cancer immunotherapy development.
  • Targeted strategies can enhance NK cell-based anticancer therapies.
Keywords:
CARNK cellscancer immunotherapycheckpoint inhibitors

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

1.5K
Measurement of Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity and Migration in the Context of Hepatic Tumor Cells06:55

Measurement of Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity and Migration in the Context of Hepatic Tumor Cells

Published on: February 22, 2020

19.2K

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...
6.2K
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...
8.2K
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.
1.3K
The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
7.4K
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...
7.5K
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection01:22

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
14.2K