IL-21 Enhances Natural Killer Cell Response to Cetuximab-Coated Pancreatic Tumor Cells.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Alternative strategies to EGFR blockage by mAbs is necessary to improve the efficacy of therapy in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. One such strategy includes the use of NK cells to clear cetuximab-coated tumor cells, as need for novel therapeutic approaches to enhance the efficacy of cetuximab is evident. We show that IL-21 enhances NK cell-mediated effector functions against cetuximab-coated pancreatic tumor cells irrespective of KRAS mutation status.

Experimental design

NK cells from normal donors or donors with pancreatic cancer were used to assess ADCC, IFN-γ release, and T-cell chemotaxis toward human pancreatic cancer cell lines. The in vivo efficacy of IL-21 in combination with cetuximab was evaluated in a subcutaneous and intra

SUBMITTER: McMichael EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5241232 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature