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Review
. 2022 Oct;28(10):650-656.
doi: 10.1016/j.jtct.2022.06.025. Epub 2022 Jul 3.

The Next Generation of Cellular Immunotherapy: Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Natural Killer Cells

Jake Moscarelli  1 , David Zahavi  1 , Rachael Maynard  1 , Louis M Weiner  2
Affiliations
Review

The Next Generation of Cellular Immunotherapy: Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Natural Killer Cells

Jake Moscarelli et al. Transplant Cell Ther. 2022 Oct.

Abstract

The advent of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineering has led to the development of powerful cellular therapies for cancer. CAR T cell-based treatments have had notable clinical success, but logistical issues and associated toxicities are recognized limitations. There is emerging interest in using other immune effector cell types for CAR therapy. Natural killer (NK) cells are part of the innate immune system, and these lymphocytes play major roles in immunosurveillance and antitumor immune responses. Incorporating CARs into NK cells provides the opportunity to harness and enhance their innate cytotoxic potential toward malignancies. In this review, we discuss the production of CAR-engineered NK cells, highlight data on their preclinical and clinical efficacy, and examine the obstacles and strategies to overcome them.

Keywords: Chimeric antigen receptor; Clinical trial; Immunotherapy; Natural killer cells; Resistance.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Advantages and Disadvantages of CAR-NK Cell Sources Created with BioRender.com
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Generations of CAR Constructs Created with BioRender.com
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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