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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 27, 2025

Evaluation of Tumor-infiltrating Leukocyte Subsets in a Subcutaneous Tumor Model

Evaluation of Tumor-infiltrating Leukocyte Subsets in a Subcutaneous Tumor Model

Published on: April 13, 2015

Tumor-Infiltrating Natural Killer Cells.

Beatriz Cózar¹, Marco Greppi^1,2, Sabrina Carpentier¹

¹Innate Pharma Research Laboratories, Innate Pharma, Marseille, France.

Cancer Discovery

|December 5, 2020

Summary

Natural killer (NK) cells fight tumors but can become dysfunctional in the tumor microenvironment. This review details how tumors impair NK cell functions, impacting cancer immunotherapy.

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Last Updated: Nov 27, 2025

Evaluation of Tumor-infiltrating Leukocyte Subsets in a Subcutaneous Tumor Model

Evaluation of Tumor-infiltrating Leukocyte Subsets in a Subcutaneous Tumor Model

Published on: April 13, 2015

Enrichment and Characterization of the Tumor Immune and Non-immune Microenvironments in Established Subcutaneous Murine Tumors

Enrichment and Characterization of the Tumor Immune and Non-immune Microenvironments in Established Subcutaneous Murine Tumors

Published on: June 7, 2018

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

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

Published on: February 22, 2020

Area of Science:

Immunology
Oncology
Cancer Research

Background:

Natural killer (NK) cells possess potent antitumor activity and play a key role in innate immunity.
NK cells contribute to anti-tumor immune responses through cytotoxicity and cytokine production.
The tumor microenvironment often suppresses immune cells, including NK cells, leading to tumor escape.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the mechanisms by which tumors impair the function of tumor-infiltrating NK cells.
To provide an overview of NK cell infiltration, surveillance, and dysfunction in the context of cancer.

Main Methods:

Literature review of existing research on NK cells and the tumor microenvironment.
Analysis of mechanisms of NK cell dysfunction induced by cancer cells.
Synthesis of information on NK cell infiltration and surveillance in tumors.

Main Results:

NK cells infiltrate tumors but their functions are often impaired within the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
Cancer cells produce inhibitory molecules that lead to NK cell dysfunction.
Tumor escape is facilitated by the compromised activity of tumor-infiltrating NK cells.

Conclusions:

The effectiveness of NK cell-based cancer immunotherapies may be limited by tumor-induced NK cell dysfunction.
Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing strategies to enhance NK cell activity against tumors.
Targeting the tumor microenvironment's suppressive effects on NK cells is a promising therapeutic avenue.