INDUCED PLURIPOTENT STEM CELL DERIVED CHIMERIC ANTIGEN RECEPTOR NATURAL KILLER CELL THERAPY: A POTENTIAL BRANCH OF ACCESSIBLE CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY

Abstract

Cancer Immunotherapy is a growing field in methods of cancer treatments, harnessing the body’s natural immune system to target specific malignant cells, especially using the natural killer (NK) cells. Providing expansion in the utilization of immunotherapy is the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK cell therapy, utilizing NK cells’ ability to target and kill cells and modifying them to detect the once genetically disguised malignant cells. However, challenges such as scalability and limited sources have hindered CAR-NK therapy’s actual implementation. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have provided potential solutions to overcome these challenges, as they are known to be self-renewable, “off the shelf”, and can be derived from any source of somatic cells. IPSCs are laboratory induced stem cells, and can differentiate into various types of cells, including NK cells. By combining both technologies, iPSC derived CAR-NK cell (CAR-iNK) therapies can provide the accessibility and scalability which were previously a concern; they are even able to drastically lower costs for cancer therapy, thereby allowing CAR-iNK therapy to be easily accessible for many. This paper will focus on the utilization and efficacy of CAR-iNK therapies by exploring the generation of iPSCs and expansion of CAR-NK cell therapies, along with evaluating multiple preclinical and clinical trials. Potential advantages and applications of CAR-iNK therapy will further be discussed, as well as prospects of CAR-iNK therapy’s widespread implementation.