Scientists have developed a new type of immunotherapy that uses genetically modified natural killer (NK) cells to target and destroy cancer cells. NK cells are a type of immune cell that can kill cancer cells directly. The researchers modified the NK cells by adding a special receptor called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that recognizes and binds to a protein called cMET, which is often found on the surface of cancer cells.
The researchers tested their anti-cMET CAR-NK-92 cells on cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cells grown in the laboratory. They found that the modified NK cells were able to effectively kill the CCA cells, especially those with high levels of cMET. This suggests that this new immunotherapy approach could be a promising treatment option for CCA and other cancers that express cMET.
Funding
This research was supported by Chiang Mai University and partially supported by NSRF (Thailand National Science, Research, and Innovation Fund) via the Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation [grant1 number B36G660005]. Pa-thai Yenchitsomanus is a member of the Thailand Hub of Talents in Cancer Immunotherapy (TTCI). The academic endeavors of TTCI receive support from the National Research Council of Thailand (N35E660102).
Original Paper
Title of original paper: Precision immunotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma: Pioneering the use of human-derived anti-cMET single chain variable fragment in anti-cMET chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) NK cells
Journal: International Immunopharmacology
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112273