Weaponizing natural killer cells for solid cancer immunotherapy

Joshua K M Wong; Riccardo Dolcetti; Handoo Rhee; Fiona Simpson; Fernando Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes

doi:10.1016/j.trecan.2022.10.009

Weaponizing natural killer cells for solid cancer immunotherapy

Trends Cancer. 2023 Feb;9(2):111-121. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.10.009. Epub 2022 Nov 12.

Authors

Joshua K M Wong¹, Riccardo Dolcetti², Handoo Rhee³, Fiona Simpson¹, Fernando Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes⁴

Affiliations

¹ The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia.
² The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
³ Princess Alexandra Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Jubilee II Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia; The School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia.
⁴ The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia. Electronic address: f.guimaraes@uq.edu.au.

PMID: 36379852
DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.10.009

Abstract

Enhancing natural killer (NK) cell-based innate immunity has become a promising strategy for immunotherapy against hard-to-cure solid cancers. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy has been used to activate NK-cell-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) towards solid cancers. Cancer cells, however, can subvert immunosurveillance using multiple immunosuppressive mechanisms, which may hamper NK cell ADCC. Mechanisms to safely enhance ADCC by NK cells, such as utilizing temporary inhibition of receptor endocytosis to increase antibody presentation from target to effector cells can now be used to enhance NK-cell-mediated ADCC against solid tumors. This review summarizes and discusses the recent advances in the field and highlights current and potential future use of immunotherapies to maximize the therapeutic efficacy of innate anticancer immunity.

Keywords: NK cells; antibody therapeutics; antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity; solid tumors; tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity
Humans
Immunotherapy
Killer Cells, Natural*
Neoplasms* / drug therapy

Substances

Antibodies, Monoclonal