CAR-NK cells for cancer immunotherapy: recent advances and future directions

Tianye Li; Mengke Niu; Weijiang Zhang; Shuang Qin; Jianwei Zhou; Ming Yi

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2024.1361194

CAR-NK cells for cancer immunotherapy: recent advances and future directions

Front Immunol. 2024 Feb 9:15:1361194. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1361194. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Tianye Li^{1

2}, Mengke Niu³, Weijiang Zhang^{1

2}, Shuang Qin⁴, Jianwei Zhou^{1

2}, Ming Yi⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
² Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hangzhou, China.
³ Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
⁴ Department of Radiation Oncology, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
⁵ Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Abstract

Natural Killer (NK) cells, intrinsic to the innate immune system, are pivotal in combating cancer due to their independent cytotoxic capabilities in antitumor immune response. Unlike predominant treatments that target T cell immunity, the limited success of T cell immunotherapy emphasizes the urgency for innovative approaches, with a spotlight on harnessing the potential of NK cells. Despite tumors adapting mechanisms to evade NK cell-induced cytotoxicity, there is optimism surrounding Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) NK cells. This comprehensive review delves into the foundational features and recent breakthroughs in comprehending the dynamics of NK cells within the tumor microenvironment. It critically evaluates the potential applications and challenges associated with emerging CAR-NK cell therapeutic strategies, positioning them as promising tools in the evolving landscape of precision medicine. As research progresses, the unique attributes of CAR-NK cells offer a new avenue for therapeutic interventions, paving the way for a more effective and precise approach to cancer treatment.

Keywords: CAR-NK; adoptive cell transfer; cancer immunotherapy; natural killer cell; the tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Humans
Immunotherapy
Killer Cells, Natural
Neoplasms*
Receptors, Chimeric Antigen* / genetics
T-Lymphocytes
Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

Receptors, Chimeric Antigen

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (LQ24H160007), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2022M722766 and 2023M743016), and Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of CPSF (No. GZB20230642).