NK cells: An attractive candidate for cancer therapy

Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells have significant capability in tumor immune-surveillance. The ability of lyse transformed cells immediately in an antigen-independent manner make them an attractive candidate for cancer cell therapy. Despite employment of NK cells in cancer immunotherapy, clinical trials are faced with serious limitations such as trouble with the penetration of NK cells in tumor sites, limited in vivo persistence, and tumor microenvironment interference. Taken together, the NK-cell cancer therapy is still infant scenario that has a long way to be translated in clinic. Current article first reviews characteristic features of NK lymphocytes. Then, it discusses about important disruptive barriers and motivator in the developmental stages of NK cells like as tumor microenvironment. Finally, some revolutionary approaches are highlighted utilizing of NK cells in cancer therapy.

Keywords: ADCC; cell therapy; natural killer cells; tumor microenvironment.