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Portale F, Di Mitri D. NK Cells in Cancer: Mechanisms of Dysfunction and Therapeutic Potential. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119521. [PMID: 37298470 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer cells (NK) are innate lymphocytes endowed with the ability to recognize and kill cancer cells. Consequently, adoptive transfer of autologous or allogeneic NK cells represents a novel opportunity in cancer treatment that is currently under clinical investigation. However, cancer renders NK cells dysfunctional, thus restraining the efficacy of cell therapies. Importantly, extensive effort has been employed to investigate the mechanisms that restrain NK cell anti-tumor function, and the results have offered forthcoming solutions to improve the efficiency of NK cell-based therapies. The present review will introduce the origin and features of NK cells, summarize the mechanisms of action and causes of dysfunction of NK cells in cancer, and frame NK cells in the tumoral microenvironment and in the context of immunotherapies. Finally, we will discuss therapeutic potential and current limitations of NK cell adoptive transfer in tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Portale
- Tumor Microenviroment Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Milan, Italy
| | - Diletta Di Mitri
- Tumor Microenviroment Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Milan, Italy
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Soldi LR, Silva VLC, Rabelo DH, Uehara IA, Silva MJB. Reactivation of natural killer cells with monoclonal antibodies in the microenvironment of malignant neoplasms. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023:10.1007/s00432-023-04575-8. [PMID: 36633682 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-04575-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer cells are critical players in the antitumor immune response due to their ability to destroy target cells through cytotoxic activity and other means. However, this response is inhibited in the tumor microenvironment, where a crippling hypoxic environment and several inhibitory molecules bind to NK cells to trigger an anergic state. Inhibitory receptors such as PD-1, NK2GA, KIR, TIGIT, and LAG-3 have been associated with inhibition of NK cells in multiple cancer types. Binding to these receptors leads to loss of cytotoxicity, lower proliferation and metabolic rates, and even apoptosis. While these receptors are important for avoiding auto-immunity, in a pathological setting like malignant neoplasms they are disadvantageous for the individual's immune system to combat cancer cells. The use of monoclonal antibodies to block these receptors contributes to cancer therapy by preventing the inhibition of NK cells. In this review, the impact of NK cell inhibition and activation on cancer therapy was summarized and an overview of the blockade of inhibitory pathways by monoclonal antibodies was provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz Ricardo Soldi
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.,Tumor Biomarkers and Osteoimmunology Laboratory, Av. Pará - 1720 - Block 6T, Room 07 - District Umuarama, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Applied Immunology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Victor Luigi Costa Silva
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.,Tumor Biomarkers and Osteoimmunology Laboratory, Av. Pará - 1720 - Block 6T, Room 07 - District Umuarama, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - Diogo Henrique Rabelo
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.,Tumor Biomarkers and Osteoimmunology Laboratory, Av. Pará - 1720 - Block 6T, Room 07 - District Umuarama, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Applied Immunology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Isadora Akemi Uehara
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.,Tumor Biomarkers and Osteoimmunology Laboratory, Av. Pará - 1720 - Block 6T, Room 07 - District Umuarama, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - Marcelo José Barbosa Silva
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil. .,Tumor Biomarkers and Osteoimmunology Laboratory, Av. Pará - 1720 - Block 6T, Room 07 - District Umuarama, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
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Nakhoda S, Rizwan F, Vistarop A, Nejati R. Updates in the Role of Checkpoint Inhibitor Immunotherapy in Classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:2936. [PMID: 35740598 PMCID: PMC9220999 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14122936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Classical Hodgkin's lymphoma is a highly curable disease, but 10-25% of patients with higher-risk disease relapse. The introduction of checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) targeting PD-1 have changed the landscape of treatment for patients with relapsed/refractory disease to multiple lines of therapy. The depth of response to CPI as a monotherapy is highest in the first relapse as salvage therapy based on outcomes reported in several phase II studies. With earlier use of CPI and brentuximab vedotin, the optimal sequencing of therapy is evolving. In this review, we will summarize clinical investigation of anti-PD-1 mAb in earlier line settings to provide insights on utilizing these agents as chemotherapy- and radiation-sparing approaches, increasing depth of response, and as part of combination regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shazia Nakhoda
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; (A.V.); (R.N.)
| | - Farsha Rizwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA;
| | - Aldana Vistarop
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; (A.V.); (R.N.)
| | - Reza Nejati
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; (A.V.); (R.N.)
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