Improving natural killer cell cancer immunotherapy.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose of review

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells specialized to eliminate malignant cells via direct cytotoxicity and immunoregulatory cytokine production. As such, NK cells are ideal as cellular therapy for cancer patients, and several studies have provided proof of principle that adoptively transferred NK cells can induce remissions in patients with leukemia. A clear understanding of the mechanisms underlying NK cell antitumor responses, including target cell recognition, activation status, and negative regulatory signals will improve NK cellular therapy for cancer patients.

Recent findings

Clinical studies have demonstrated the safety and preliminary efficacy of NK cell adoptive transfer, especially in hematologic malignancies. Various NK cell sources

SUBMITTER: Berrien-Elliott MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4635041 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature