Empowering Natural Killer Cells to Combat Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Perspective on CAR-NK Cell Therapy

Abstract: Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy with a high relapse rate and still limited therapeutic options. Natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy has the potential to improve outcomes for patients with AML. Summary: Recent preclinical studies and early-stage clinical trials aim to enhance the intrinsic anti-leukemic properties of NK cells by selectively targeting AML cells with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). Furthermore, NK and CAR-NK cells can be combined with other therapeutic modalities or engineered further to overcome the immunosuppressive microenvironment, and treatment resistance of AML blasts and leukemia-initiating cells (LIC). Key Messages: In this review, we summarize preclinical studies with cytokine-stimulated or genetically engineered NK cells derived from different cell sources for the treatment of AML and their translation into early-phase clinical trials. We also provide an overview of promising recent developments toward innovative NK cell-based therapies that may be implemented in the near future. Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy with a high relapse rate and still limited therapeutic options. Natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy has the potential to improve outcomes for patients with AML. Summary: Recent preclinical studies and early-stage clinical trials aim to enhance the intrinsic anti-leukemic properties of NK cells by selectively targeting AML cells with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). Furthermore, NK and CAR-NK cells can be combined with other therapeutic modalities or engineered further to overcome the immunosuppressive microenvironment, and treatment resistance of AML blasts and leukemia-initiating cells (LIC). Key Messages: In this review, we summarize preclinical studies with cytokine-stimulated or genetically engineered NK cells derived from different cell sources for the treatment of AML and their translation into early-phase clinical trials. We also provide an overview of promising recent developments toward innovative NK cell-based therapies that may be implemented in the near future. Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy with a high relapse rate and still limited therapeutic options. Natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy has the potential to improve outcomes for patients with AML. Summary: Recent preclinical studies and early-stage clinical trials aim to enhance the intrinsic anti-leukemic properties of NK cells by selectively targeting AML cells with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). Furthermore, NK and CAR-NK cells can be combined with other therapeutic modalities or engineered further to overcome the immunosuppressive microenvironment, and treatment resistance of AML blasts and leukemia-initiating cells (LIC). Key Messages: In this review, we summarize preclinical studies with cytokine-stimulated or genetically engineered NK cells derived from different cell sources for the treatment of AML and their translation into early-phase clinical trials. We also provide an overview of promising recent developments toward innovative NK cell-based therapies that may be implemented in the near future.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Empowering Natural Killer Cells to Combat Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Perspective on CAR-NK Cell Therapy ; volume:52 ; number:1 ; year:2024 ; pages:42-60 ; extent:19 ; Transfusion medicine and hemotherapy ; 52, Heft 1 (2024), 42-60 (gesamt 19)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Gierschek, Fenja ; Schlueter, Juliane ; Kühnel, Ines ; Feigl, Frederik Fabian ; Schmiedel, Dominik ; Prüfer, Maren ; Buchinger, Leon ; Cerwenka, Adelheid ; Cappel, Claudia ; Huenecke, Sabine ; Köhl, Ulrike ; Wels, Winfried S. ; Ullrich, Evelyn

Further information

• DOI: 10.1159/000540962
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2502171804198.871479089637
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:35 AM CEST