NK cells are the first sentinels of the immune system that can recognize and eradicate transformed cells. Their activation without a need for additional signaling have attracted great attention on the use of NK cells as a promising option in cancer immunotherapy. However, the large-scale production of NK cells for successful NK cells therapy is a challenge that needs to be tackled. Engineering NK cells to avoid tumor escape and improve their antitumor potency are the other matters of focus that have widely been studied in the recent years. This paper reviews the most recent advances in the stem cell-derived NK cell technology and discusses the potential of the engineered NK cells for clinical applications in cancer immunotherapy.
Keywords: NK cell therapy; NK cells; cancer immunotherapy; stem cells.
NK cells are important cells in our body's defense system that can find and destroy tumor cells. These cells are made in bone marrow (in adults) or umbilical cord (in the embryonic period) from a population of cells called stem cells, and then released into the blood and lymph. Stem cells are the early ancestral cells that can differentiate into multiple cell types. Because the number and function of NK cells in a tumor context are reduced, thus we can use these stem cells to make lots of NK cells for treatment purposes. Scientists can also make these cells even better at killing tumors by changing them to have special sensors. In the end, NK cells are like superheroes that fight and kill tumor cells, and using stem cells to make them is a really promising way to help treat malignant diseases.