Harnessing novel engineered feeder cells expressing activating molecules for optimal expansion of NK cells with potent antitumor activity

Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in the antitumor immune response as the major cytotoxic lymphocytes in the innate immune system. NK cells without any genetic modifications have been used for both autologous and allogeneic therapies. Moreover, many reports have suggested that allogeneic NK cells can reduce the recurrence of disease and improve survival through a graft-versus-leukemia effect without GVHD [ 1 , 2 ].