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Unleashing the power of NK cells in anticancer immunotherapy.

ABSTRACT: Due to their physiological role in removing damaged cells, natural killer (NK) cells represent ideal candidates for cellular immunotherapy in the treatment of cancer. Thereby, the cytotoxicity of NK cells is regulated by signals on both, the NK cells as well as the targeted tumor cells, and the interplay and balance of these signals determine the killing capacity of NK cells. One promising avenue in cancer treatment is therefore the combination of NK cell therapy with agents that either help to increase the killing capacity of NK cells or sensitize tumor cells to an NK cell-mediated attack. In this mini-review, we present different strategies that can be explored to unleash the potential of NK cell immunotherapy. In particular, we summarize how modulation of apoptosis signaling within tumor cells can be exploited to sensitize tumor cells to NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

SUBMITTER: Vogler M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8843917 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Unleashing the power of NK cells in anticancer immunotherapy.

Vogler Meike M Shanmugalingam Senthan S Särchen Vinzenz V Reindl Lisa Marie LM Grèze Victoria V Buchinger Leon L Kühn Michael M Ullrich Evelyn E

Journal of molecular medicine (Berlin, Germany) 20210809 3

Due to their physiological role in removing damaged cells, natural killer (NK) cells represent ideal candidates for cellular immunotherapy in the treatment of cancer. Thereby, the cytotoxicity of NK cells is regulated by signals on both, the NK cells as well as the targeted tumor cells, and the interplay and balance of these signals determine the killing capacity of NK cells. One promising avenue in cancer treatment is therefore the combination of NK cell therapy with agents that either help to ...[more]

PMID: 34374809

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