NK Cell Therapy: A New Era of “Off-the-Shelf” Cellular Immunotherapy for Cancer
Eugene Zadorin
ABSTRACT
Natural killer (NK) cells have emerged as a promising platform for cancer immunotherapy due to their intrinsic ability to recognize and eliminate malignant cells without prior sensitization. Unlike T-cell based therapies, NK cells can be developed as “off-the-shelf” products, enabling rapid availability and reduced risk of graft-versus-host disease. Recent advances in genetic engineering, cytokine activation, and ex vivo expansion have significantly improved the cytotoxic potential and persistence of NK cell products. This review summarizes the biological foundations of NK cell function, current engineering strategies including CAR-NK approaches, clinical progress, and key challenges in translating NK cell therapy into routine oncological practice.
