NK cells and the tumour microenvironment: implications for NK-cell function and anti-tumour activity

Although it is clear that natural killer (NK) cells have the ability to recognize and kill tumour cells in vitro, their potential as a highly effective treatment for tumours has not yet been realized in the clinical setting. Following activation, endogenous and adoptively transferred NK cells can be...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in immunology 2003-11, Vol.24 (11), p.603-609
Main Authors: Albertsson, Per A., Basse, Per H., Hokland, Marianne, Goldfarb, Ronald H., Nagelkerke, J.Fred, Nannmark, Ulf, Kuppen, Peter J.K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adoptive Transfer
Animals
Cell Movement
Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
Extracellular Matrix - immunology
Humans
Immunotherapy - methods
In Vitro Techniques
Interleukin-2 - pharmacology
Killer Cells, Natural - classification
Killer Cells, Natural - drug effects
Killer Cells, Natural - immunology
Lymphocyte Activation
Lymphocyte Subsets - classification
Lymphocyte Subsets - drug effects
Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology
Neoplasms - immunology
Neoplasms - therapy
Receptors, Chemokine - metabolism
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Summary:Although it is clear that natural killer (NK) cells have the ability to recognize and kill tumour cells in vitro, their potential as a highly effective treatment for tumours has not yet been realized in the clinical setting. Following activation, endogenous and adoptively transferred NK cells can be found in tumours. However, not all tumours are equally well-infiltrated, and many of the infiltrating cells do not make target-cell contact but rather reside in the tumour stroma. New insights into the migration of NK cells, their activation status and production of matrix-degrading proteases might help to overcome this localization defect, with implications for the treatment of human cancer.
ISSN:1471-4906
1471-4981
DOI:10.1016/j.it.2003.09.007