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Review
. 2020 Dec 7;13(1):167.
doi: 10.1186/s13045-020-00996-x.

Natural killer cell-based immunotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia

Jing Xu  1 , Ting Niu  2
Affiliations
Review

Natural killer cell-based immunotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia

Jing Xu et al. J Hematol Oncol. .

Abstract

Despite considerable progress has been achieved in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia over the past decades, relapse remains a major problem. Novel therapeutic options aimed at attaining minimal residual disease-negative complete remission are expected to reduce the incidence of relapse and prolong survival. Natural killer cell-based immunotherapy is put forward as an option to tackle the unmet clinical needs. There have been an increasing number of therapeutic dimensions ranging from adoptive NK cell transfer, chimeric antigen receptor-modified NK cells, antibodies, cytokines to immunomodulatory drugs. In this review, we will summarize different forms of NK cell-based immunotherapy for AML based on preclinical investigations and clinical trials.

Keywords: Acute myeloid leukemia; Adoptive NK cell transfer; Antibodies; Chimeric antigen receptor-modified NK cells; Cytokines; Immunotherapy; Natural killer cells.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mechanisms of immune escape from NK cell-mediated recognition in AML. Dysfunctional NK cells exhibit an imbalanced receptor expression with the overexpression of inhibitory receptors and the underexpression of activating receptors. AML cells display a defective expression of cognate ligands for NK cell activating and inhibitory receptors. The tumor microenvironment consisting of Treg cells and MDSCs can interfere with the function of NK cells through the secreting of cytokines. MDSC myeloid-derived suppressor cell, NK natural killer cell; Treg regulatory T cell
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Strategies of NK cell-based immunotherapy in activating the reconstitution of NK cells against AML. a Adoptive NK cell transfer. b CAR-NK cell therapy. c Antibodies targeting tumor associated antigens, BiKE and TriKE. d Antibodies targeting NK cell inhibitory receptors. e Cytokines. f Drugs with immunomodulatory function. BiKE bi-specific killer cell engager, CAR chimeric antigen receptor, HLA human leukocyte antigen, KIR killer immunoglobulin-like receptor, TriKE tri-specific killer cell engager
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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