NK cells as adoptive cellular therapy for hematological malignancies: Advantages and hurdles

Simona Caruso; Biagio De Angelis; Simona Carlomagno; Francesca Del Bufalo; Simona Sivori; Franco Locatelli; Concetta Quintarelli

doi:10.1053/j.seminhematol.2020.10.004

NK cells as adoptive cellular therapy for hematological malignancies: Advantages and hurdles

Semin Hematol. 2020 Oct;57(4):175-184. doi: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2020.10.004. Epub 2020 Oct 26.

Authors

Simona Caruso¹, Biagio De Angelis¹, Simona Carlomagno², Francesca Del Bufalo¹, Simona Sivori³, Franco Locatelli⁴, Concetta Quintarelli⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department Onco-Hematology, and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
² University of Genoa, Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), Genoa, 16145, Italy.
³ University of Genoa, Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES) and Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), 16145, Genoa, Italy.
⁴ Department Onco-Hematology, and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Dipartimento Materno-Infantile e Scienze Urologiche, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
⁵ Department Onco-Hematology, and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 33256910
DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2020.10.004

Abstract

Natural killer cells are an essential component of the innate immune system and play a crucial role in immunity against malignancies, without, at difference with T cells, requiring antigen priming or inducing graft-versus-host-disease. Hence, Natural Killer cells can provide a valuable source of allogeneic "off-the-shelf" adoptive therapy and mediate major antileukemia effects, without inducing potentially lethal alloreactivity. Several cell sources have been used for producing and expanding large numbers of clinical-grade natural killer cells. In this review, we will discuss the advantages and challenges of Natural Killer cell-based therapeutic approaches for hematological malignancies, also exploring different strategies to potentiate their clinical application.

Keywords: CAR; Genetic modification; HSC transplantation; Immunotherapy; KIRs; NK cell.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Hematologic Neoplasms / immunology
Hematologic Neoplasms / therapy*
Humans
Immunotherapy, Adoptive / methods*
Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*