Engineering CAR-NK cells: how to tune innate killer cells for cancer immunotherapy

Author(s)

Schmidt, Dayane ; Ebrahimabadi, Sima ; de Sena Gomes, Kauan Ribeiro ; Aguiar, Graziela de Moura ; Tirapelle, Mariane Cariati ; Silvestre, Renata Nacasaki ; Cottas de Azevedo, Julia Teixeira ; Covas, Dimas Tadeu ; Picanco-Castro, Virginia

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: IMMUNOTHERAPY ADVANCES; v. 2, n. 1, p. 14-pg., 2022-04-06.

Abstract

Cell therapy is an innovative approach that permits numerous possibilities in the field of cancer treatment. CAR-T cells have been successfully used in patients with hematologic relapsed/refractory. However, the need for autologous sources for T cells is still a major drawback. CAR-NK cells have emerged as a promising resource using allogeneic cells that could be established as an off-the-shelf treatment. NK cells can be obtained from various sources, such as peripheral blood (PB), bone marrow, umbilical cord blood (CB), and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), as well as cell lines. Genetic engineering of NK cells to express different CAR constructs for hematological cancers and solid tumors has shown promising preclinical results and they are currently being explored in multiple clinical trials. Several strategies have been employed to improve CAR-NK-cell expansion and cytotoxicity efficiency. In this article, we review the latest achievements and progress made in the field of CAR-NK-cell therapy. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/08135-2 - CTC - Center for Cell-Based Therapy
• Grantee: Dimas Tadeu Covas
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 19/25309-0 - Off-the-shelf engineered NK cells for the treatment of Leukemia and Lymphoma treatment
• Grantee: Virginia Picanço e Castro
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 20/08279-8 - Establishment of a platform for generating NK-CAR cells with greater therapeutic effectiveness in vitro and in vivo
• Grantee: Júlia Teixeira Cottas de Azevedo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 20/09206-4 - Prospection of technological trends in immunotherapy in the area of gene therapy
• Grantee: Kauan Ribeiro de Sena Gomes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate