The Emergence of Natural Killer Cells as a Major Target in Cancer Immunotherapy

Fernando Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes; Joseph Cursons; Nicholas D Huntington

Journal article

The Emergence of Natural Killer Cells as a Major Target in Cancer Immunotherapy

Fernando Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Joseph Cursons, Nicholas D Huntington

TRENDS IN IMMUNOLOGY | ELSEVIER SCI LTD | Published : 2019

DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2018.12.003

Abstract

Immune 'checkpoint' inhibitors can increase the activity of tumor-resident cytotoxic lymphocytes and have revolutionized cancer treatment. Current therapies block inhibitory pathways in tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells and recent studies have shown similar programs in other effector populations such as natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells are critical for immunosurveillance, particularly the control of metastatic cells or hematological cancers. However, how NK cells specifically recognize transformed cells and dominant negative feedback pathways, as well as how tumors escape NK cell control, remains undefined. This review summarizes recent advances that have illuminated inhibitory checkpoints ..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Joseph Cursons Author Medical Biology (W.E.H.I.)

Fernando Fonseca Guimaraes Author Medical Biology (W.E.H.I.)

Nicholas Huntington Author Medical Biology (W.E.H.I.)

Grants

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia

Awarded by NHMRC Early Career Fellowship

Awarded by National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) Fellowship

Awarded by Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme

Awarded by Harry J. Lloyd Charitable Trust

Funding Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the consumers involved in the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute Buddy Program who have contributed to this review: Mr George Kiossoglou and Ms Elizabeth Flemming-Judge have provided valuable advice and insight. We would also like to thank the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute graphics department, in particular Mr Peter Maltezos, for his assistance with preparing figures. Results published here are, in part, based upon data generated by the TCGA Research Network: http://cancergenome.nih.gov/.Authors are supported by project grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia (#1124784, #1066770, #1057852, #1124907 to N.D.H; and #1140406 to F.S.F.G). F.S.F.G. was supported by a NHMRC Early Career Fellowship (1088703), a National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) Fellowship (PF-15-008), a grant #1120725 awarded through the Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme and funded by Cure Cancer Australia with the assistance of Cancer Australia. N.D.H is a NHMRC CDF2 Fellow (1124788), a recipient of a Melanoma Research Grant from the Harry J. Lloyd Charitable Trust, Melanoma Research Alliance Young Investigator Award, and a CLIP grant from Cancer Research Institute. This study was made possible through Victorian State Government Operational Infrastructure Support and Australian Government NHMRC Independent Research Institute Infrastructure Support scheme.