The innate defenders: a review of natural killer cell immunotherapies in cancer

Cancer is a condition that has been with us for centuries; however, the therapies that have been developed are often associated with significant toxicity and various side effects. Recent advances in immunology have revealed the potential of the immune system to fight cancer, leading to the emergence...

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Main Authors: Pablo Álvarez-Carrasco, Carmen Maldonado-Bernal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1482807/full
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author Pablo Álvarez-Carrasco
Pablo Álvarez-Carrasco
Carmen Maldonado-Bernal
author_facet Pablo Álvarez-Carrasco
Pablo Álvarez-Carrasco
Carmen Maldonado-Bernal
author_sort Pablo Álvarez-Carrasco
collection DOAJ
description Cancer is a condition that has been with us for centuries; however, the therapies that have been developed are often associated with significant toxicity and various side effects. Recent advances in immunology have revealed the potential of the immune system to fight cancer, leading to the emergence of immunotherapy. This review focuses on Natural Killer (NK) cells, innate immune effectors with a remarkable ability to directly kill cancer cells. We will explore the historical context of cancer treatment, the nature of NK cells, and the ways they have been developed to enhance their anti-tumor function, highlighting the limitations of conventional therapies. The therapeutic potential of NK cell-based immunotherapies will also be discussed, emphasizing their unique advantages over other immune cell-based approaches. This review highlights the promising future of NK cell therapies in the fight against cancer and their possible application to assist and improve conventional therapies developed so far.
format Article
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-25dad5484f4a4b4d943f1ef900e673662025-08-20T01:57:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242024-12-011510.3389/fimmu.2024.14828071482807The innate defenders: a review of natural killer cell immunotherapies in cancerPablo Álvarez-Carrasco0Pablo Álvarez-Carrasco1Carmen Maldonado-Bernal2Laboratorio de Investigación en Inmunología y Proteómica, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico City, MexicoFacultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, MexicoLaboratorio de Investigación en Inmunología y Proteómica, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico City, MexicoCancer is a condition that has been with us for centuries; however, the therapies that have been developed are often associated with significant toxicity and various side effects. Recent advances in immunology have revealed the potential of the immune system to fight cancer, leading to the emergence of immunotherapy. This review focuses on Natural Killer (NK) cells, innate immune effectors with a remarkable ability to directly kill cancer cells. We will explore the historical context of cancer treatment, the nature of NK cells, and the ways they have been developed to enhance their anti-tumor function, highlighting the limitations of conventional therapies. The therapeutic potential of NK cell-based immunotherapies will also be discussed, emphasizing their unique advantages over other immune cell-based approaches. This review highlights the promising future of NK cell therapies in the fight against cancer and their possible application to assist and improve conventional therapies developed so far.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1482807/fullnatural killer cellscancerimmunotherapyactivating signalsinhibitory signalsCAR-NK cells
spellingShingle Pablo Álvarez-Carrasco
Pablo Álvarez-Carrasco
Carmen Maldonado-Bernal
The innate defenders: a review of natural killer cell immunotherapies in cancer
Frontiers in Immunology
natural killer cells
cancer
immunotherapy
activating signals
inhibitory signals
CAR-NK cells
title The innate defenders: a review of natural killer cell immunotherapies in cancer
title_full The innate defenders: a review of natural killer cell immunotherapies in cancer
title_fullStr The innate defenders: a review of natural killer cell immunotherapies in cancer
title_full_unstemmed The innate defenders: a review of natural killer cell immunotherapies in cancer
title_short The innate defenders: a review of natural killer cell immunotherapies in cancer
title_sort innate defenders a review of natural killer cell immunotherapies in cancer
topic natural killer cells
cancer
immunotherapy
activating signals
inhibitory signals
CAR-NK cells
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1482807/full
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