Exploring the Future of NK Cells in Cancer Therapy

At the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, an educational session on natural killer (NK) cells offered an in-depth overview of recent scientific advancements and therapeutic opportunities in this fast-evolving field. The session aimed to both educate a broad oncology audience and highlight the translational potential of NK cell-based therapies in cancer.

Michael Caligiuri, MD, professor in the Division of Leukemia, Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation at City of Hope, discusses the session in an interview with Targeted OncologyTM. He explains that the session opened with a foundational talk on NK cell biology and the expanding family of NK cell subtypes.

Over the last 10 to 15 years, our understanding of NK cell diversity has grown significantly. Notably, the chair's own lab contributed to identifying several new NK cell subsets, some of which may play key roles in tumor surveillance and immune regulation. His presentation emphasized the potential for specific NK cell populations to selectively target malignancies, an area of research that is still emerging but holds promise for future immunotherapies.

Another presentation on clinical and preclinical applications of NK cells followed, including data from an ongoing clinical trial in lung cancer. This talk highlighted how NK cells, particularly in engineered forms, are showing efficacy in early-phase studies and could offer novel options for patients with limited responses to conventional treatments.

The session concluded with a discussion focused on cutting-edge approaches including induced pluripotent stem cell-derived NK cells. These can be mass-produced and genetically engineered to express custom receptors that enhance tumor targeting. He also discussed bispecific and trispecific NK cell engagers, which are engineered antibodies that simultaneously bind tumors and NK cells, facilitating immune synapse formation and cytotoxic activity without the need for cell infusion.

Although these innovations remain largely investigational, the panel underscored their potential to shift the treatment paradigm. As NK cell-based platforms continue to evolve, they could become powerful complements, or alternatives, to current T-cell therapies in oncology.