Natural Killer Cells in Paediatric Soft Tissue Sarcomas: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Paediatric soft tissue sarcomas (pSTS) are rare, heterogeneous cancers originating from mesenchymal tissues.
• The role of natural killer (NK) cells in pSTS pathogenesis and treatment is not well-defined, with limited evidence from small studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing preclinical and clinical evidence on NK cell involvement in pSTS.
• To evaluate the therapeutic potential of NK cells and NK cell-based therapies for pSTS.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched major databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science.
• Included preclinical studies and early-phase clinical trials.

Main Results:

• Preclinical studies show pSTS subtypes, including rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and non-RMS soft tissue sarcomas (NRSTS), are sensitive to NK cell-mediated killing.
• Cytokine activation and sensitizing agents enhance NK cell cytotoxicity against pSTS cells in vitro.
• Chimeric antigen receptor NK (CAR-NK) cells exhibit potent anti-tumor activity against RMS in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions:

• NK cells display significant preclinical efficacy in pSTS, with a strong focus on RMS.
• Ongoing clinical trials are investigating adoptive NK cell transfer for pSTS patients.
• Further research is needed in both RMS and NRSTS to translate these findings into clinical benefits.