Natural killer cell biology and therapy in multiple myeloma: challenges and opportunities

Abstract Despite therapeutic advancements, multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable. NK cells have emerged as a promising option for the treatment of MM. NK cells are heterogenous and typically classified based on the relative expression of their surface markers (e.g., CD56 and CD16a). These cells el...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kamlesh Bisht, Aimee Merino, Rob Igarashi, Laurent Gauthier, Marielle Chiron, Alexandre Desjonqueres, Eric Smith, Edward Briercheck, Rizwan Romee, Evren Alici, Eric Vivier, Michael O’Dwyer, Helgi van de Velde
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:Experimental Hematology & Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40164-024-00578-4
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846165453697712128
author Kamlesh Bisht
Aimee Merino
Rob Igarashi
Laurent Gauthier
Marielle Chiron
Alexandre Desjonqueres
Eric Smith
Edward Briercheck
Rizwan Romee
Evren Alici
Eric Vivier
Michael O’Dwyer
Helgi van de Velde
author_facet Kamlesh Bisht
Aimee Merino
Rob Igarashi
Laurent Gauthier
Marielle Chiron
Alexandre Desjonqueres
Eric Smith
Edward Briercheck
Rizwan Romee
Evren Alici
Eric Vivier
Michael O’Dwyer
Helgi van de Velde
author_sort Kamlesh Bisht
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Despite therapeutic advancements, multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable. NK cells have emerged as a promising option for the treatment of MM. NK cells are heterogenous and typically classified based on the relative expression of their surface markers (e.g., CD56 and CD16a). These cells elicit an antitumor response in the presence of low mutational burden and without neoantigen presentation via germline-encoded activating and inhibitory receptors that identify the markers of transformation present on the MM cells. Higher NK cell activity is associated with improved survival and prognosis, whereas lower activity is associated with advanced clinical stage and disease progression in MM. Moreover, not all NK cell phenotypes contribute equally toward the anti-MM effect; higher proportions of certain NK cell phenotypes result in better outcomes. In MM, the proportion, phenotype, and function of NK cells are drastically varied between different disease stages; this is further influenced by the bone marrow microenvironment, proportion of activating and inhibitory receptors on NK cells, expression of homing receptors, and bone marrow hypoxia. Antimyeloma therapies, such as autologous stem cell transplant, immunomodulation, proteasome inhibition, and checkpoint inhibition, further modulate the NK cell landscape in the patients. Thus, NK cells can naturally work in tandem with anti-MM therapies and be strategically modulated for improved anti-MM effect. This review article describes immunotypic and phenotypic differences in NK cells along with the functional changes in homeostatic and malignant states and provides expert insights on strategies to harness the potential of NK cells for improving outcomes in MM.
format Article
id doaj-art-0b35578717bf4584af3e0678d86f8cc2
institution Kabale University
issn 2162-3619
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Experimental Hematology & Oncology
spelling doaj-art-0b35578717bf4584af3e0678d86f8cc22024-11-17T12:13:56ZengBMCExperimental Hematology & Oncology2162-36192024-11-0113111810.1186/s40164-024-00578-4Natural killer cell biology and therapy in multiple myeloma: challenges and opportunitiesKamlesh Bisht0Aimee Merino1Rob Igarashi2Laurent Gauthier3Marielle Chiron4Alexandre Desjonqueres5Eric Smith6Edward Briercheck7Rizwan Romee8Evren Alici9Eric Vivier10Michael O’Dwyer11Helgi van de Velde12Research and DevelopmentDivision of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of MinnesotaResearch and DevelopmentInnate Pharma Research LaboratoriesResearch and DevelopmentResearch and DevelopmentDivision of Hematologic Malignancies and Transplantation, Dana Farber Cancer InstituteDivision of Hematologic Malignancies and Transplantation, Dana Farber Cancer InstituteDivision of Hematologic Malignancies and Transplantation, Dana Farber Cancer InstituteDepartment of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet (KI)Innate Pharma Research LaboratoriesDepartment of Haematology, University of GalwayResearch and DevelopmentAbstract Despite therapeutic advancements, multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable. NK cells have emerged as a promising option for the treatment of MM. NK cells are heterogenous and typically classified based on the relative expression of their surface markers (e.g., CD56 and CD16a). These cells elicit an antitumor response in the presence of low mutational burden and without neoantigen presentation via germline-encoded activating and inhibitory receptors that identify the markers of transformation present on the MM cells. Higher NK cell activity is associated with improved survival and prognosis, whereas lower activity is associated with advanced clinical stage and disease progression in MM. Moreover, not all NK cell phenotypes contribute equally toward the anti-MM effect; higher proportions of certain NK cell phenotypes result in better outcomes. In MM, the proportion, phenotype, and function of NK cells are drastically varied between different disease stages; this is further influenced by the bone marrow microenvironment, proportion of activating and inhibitory receptors on NK cells, expression of homing receptors, and bone marrow hypoxia. Antimyeloma therapies, such as autologous stem cell transplant, immunomodulation, proteasome inhibition, and checkpoint inhibition, further modulate the NK cell landscape in the patients. Thus, NK cells can naturally work in tandem with anti-MM therapies and be strategically modulated for improved anti-MM effect. This review article describes immunotypic and phenotypic differences in NK cells along with the functional changes in homeostatic and malignant states and provides expert insights on strategies to harness the potential of NK cells for improving outcomes in MM.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40164-024-00578-4Multiple myelomaNatural killer cellsNatural killer cell activating receptorNatural killer cell inhibitory receptorImmunomodulationNatural killer cell engagers
spellingShingle Kamlesh Bisht
Aimee Merino
Rob Igarashi
Laurent Gauthier
Marielle Chiron
Alexandre Desjonqueres
Eric Smith
Edward Briercheck
Rizwan Romee
Evren Alici
Eric Vivier
Michael O’Dwyer
Helgi van de Velde
Natural killer cell biology and therapy in multiple myeloma: challenges and opportunities
Experimental Hematology & Oncology
Multiple myeloma
Natural killer cells
Natural killer cell activating receptor
Natural killer cell inhibitory receptor
Immunomodulation
Natural killer cell engagers
title Natural killer cell biology and therapy in multiple myeloma: challenges and opportunities
title_full Natural killer cell biology and therapy in multiple myeloma: challenges and opportunities
title_fullStr Natural killer cell biology and therapy in multiple myeloma: challenges and opportunities
title_full_unstemmed Natural killer cell biology and therapy in multiple myeloma: challenges and opportunities
title_short Natural killer cell biology and therapy in multiple myeloma: challenges and opportunities
title_sort natural killer cell biology and therapy in multiple myeloma challenges and opportunities
topic Multiple myeloma
Natural killer cells
Natural killer cell activating receptor
Natural killer cell inhibitory receptor
Immunomodulation
Natural killer cell engagers
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40164-024-00578-4
work_keys_str_mv AT kamleshbisht naturalkillercellbiologyandtherapyinmultiplemyelomachallengesandopportunities
AT aimeemerino naturalkillercellbiologyandtherapyinmultiplemyelomachallengesandopportunities
AT robigarashi naturalkillercellbiologyandtherapyinmultiplemyelomachallengesandopportunities
AT laurentgauthier naturalkillercellbiologyandtherapyinmultiplemyelomachallengesandopportunities
AT mariellechiron naturalkillercellbiologyandtherapyinmultiplemyelomachallengesandopportunities
AT alexandredesjonqueres naturalkillercellbiologyandtherapyinmultiplemyelomachallengesandopportunities
AT ericsmith naturalkillercellbiologyandtherapyinmultiplemyelomachallengesandopportunities
AT edwardbriercheck naturalkillercellbiologyandtherapyinmultiplemyelomachallengesandopportunities
AT rizwanromee naturalkillercellbiologyandtherapyinmultiplemyelomachallengesandopportunities
AT evrenalici naturalkillercellbiologyandtherapyinmultiplemyelomachallengesandopportunities
AT ericvivier naturalkillercellbiologyandtherapyinmultiplemyelomachallengesandopportunities
AT michaelodwyer naturalkillercellbiologyandtherapyinmultiplemyelomachallengesandopportunities
AT helgivandevelde naturalkillercellbiologyandtherapyinmultiplemyelomachallengesandopportunities