Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) remains one of the most challenging hematological malignancies to treat, with relapse and refractory cases continuing to pose significant hurdles. Traditional therapies have improved survival rates, but new strategies are essential for more durable responses. Among the emerging therapeutic options, Natural Killer (NK) cell-based therapies stand out due to their unique ability to target cancer cells without the need for prior antigen sensitization.
Unlike T cells , NK cells can identify and eliminate malignant cells through a combination of innate immune responses, making them promising candidates for immunotherapy . However, the dysfunction of NK cells in patients with AML, exacerbated by chemotherapy and radiation, presents a challenge that must be addressed to unlock the full potential of NK cell-based therapies. NK cell biology NK cells are a crucial component of the innate immune system, representing a specialized subset of lymphocytes capable of identifying and destroying virally infected or transformed cells.
These cells are characterized by their expression of CD56 and CD16 and can be further divided into CD56bright and CD56dim subsets, each with distinct functional properties. The development and maturation of NK cells are tightly regulated by a network of cytokines and transcription factors, which guide their progression from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to fully mature, cytotoxic NK cells. Understanding the intricacies of NK cell biol.
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