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Natural Killer Cells and Cancer Therapy, What We Know and Where We Are Going Publisher Pubmed



Ghaemdoust F1, 2 ; Keshavarzfathi M1, 2, 3 ; Rezaei N3, 4
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1416753955, Iran
  2. 2. Cancer Immunology Project (CIP), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, 1419733151, Iran
  3. 3. Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1419733151, Iran
  4. 4. Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1416753955, Iran

Source: Immunotherapy Published:2019


Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells are among the significant components of innate immune system and they have come to the first line of defense against tumor cells developing inside the body. CD56lo/CD16+ NK cells are highly cytotoxic and CD56hi NK cells can produce cytokines and perform a regulatory function. Specific features of NK cells have made them a unique choice for cancer immunotherapy. Simple interventions like cytokine-injection to boost the internal NK cells were the first trials to target these cells. Nowadays, many other types of intervention are under investigation, such as adoptive NK cell immunotherapy. In this paper, we will discuss the biology and function of NK cells in cancer immunosurveillance and therapeutic approaches against cancer via using NK cells. © 2019 Future Medicine Ltd.
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