The usage of CAR-NK in the treatment of hematologic neoplasms: Systematic Review

• Grant number: 23/10631-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2023
• End date: September 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Rachel Riera
• Grantee: Fabrício Akira Hsu
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Hematologic neoplasms are among some of the most prevalent tumors that affect humans. They are characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells from the hematopoietic and lymphatic tissue, some examples include the lymphomas, leukemias, and myelomas. In Brazil, the non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the ninth most frequent type of cancer (not considering the non-melanoma skin cancer) according to INCA ( Instituto Nacional do Câncer). Meanwhile, leukemia occupied the tenth position. In the last decade, adoptive cell therapy (in which the cells from the immune system recognize and combat the tumoral cells) have been associated with a better prognosis of hematologic cancers. Between the cell therapies under investigation, there are the CAR-NK cells, which are Natural Killer lymphocytes (NK cells) genetically altered to express the Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) specific to that tumor. The CAR-NK cells have a better anti-tumor response than NK cells because of the chimeric antigen receptor, and present as advantages, in relation to the CAR-T cells, the possibility of its use as an off-the-shelf therapy ( ie.a therapy with immediate start). The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the efficiency and security of CAR-NK cells to the treatment of hematologic neoplasms. It will be done a wide and sensible of the current literature to identify studies, without restriction of their status, language or publication date. All the studies will be analyzed by two independent authors and , in case of any discrepancy, a third author will be consulted. The protocol will be prospectively registered in the PROSPERO database and the recommendations of the "Cochrane Handbook for Reviews of Interventions " will be followed for its planning and development. The report will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA 2020).