Development of novel NK cell-based immunotherapies for treatment of human hematological malignancies

Novel cancer immune-therapeutics, currently dominated by CAR-T and checkpoint-inhibition  (mAb) therapies, are in select cases highly effective and even curative. However, significant challenges concerning costs and potentially fatal side effects remain with these treatments.

At KI, Huddinge, our group has setup collaborative studies with several other leading translational- and clinical-scientists, all with a strong background in NK cell-based research, with the aim to (i) develop, (ii) produce, and (iii) clinically implement next-generation NK cell-based immunotherapies for treatment of human cancer with a primary emphasis on treatment-refractory hematological (myeloid and lymphoid) malignancies.

The aim is to develop clinical therapeutics with high efficacy, lower production costs than existing CAR-T cell therapies, yet with markedly reduced side effects, and in applicable cases with rapid “off-the-shelf” delivery-capacity.

The outlined research builds on recent successful execution of three recently performed “first-in-human” NK cell-based clinical trials at the Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge.

The setup of the proposed project is expected to generate outcome that goes beyond currently existing NK cell-based therapies, with potential for providing cure to currently treatment refractory hematological malignancies.