title: Role of NK cells in immunotherapy and virotherapy of solid tumors.
abstract: Although natural killer (NK) cells are endowed with powerful cytolytic activity against cancer cells, their role in different therapies against solid tumors has not yet been fully elucidated. Their interactions with various elements of the tumor microenvironment as well as their possible effects in contributing to and/or limiting oncolytic virotherapy render this potential immunotherapeutic tool still difficult to exploit at the bedside. Here, we will review the current literature with the aim of providing new hints to manage this powerful cell type in future innovative therapies, such as the use of NK cells in combination with new cytokines, specific mAbs (inducing ADCC), Tyr-Kinase inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs and/or the design of oncolytic viruses aimed at optimizing the effect of NK cells in virotherapy.
authors: Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, Genova, Italy.|Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genova, Genova, Italy.|Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Cantoni
authors: Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Virology, Parasitology & Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium.
authors: Korneel
authors: K
authors: Grauwet
authors: Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, Genova, Italy.|IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST Genova, Genova, Italy.
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: Pietra
authors: Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Parodi
authors: Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, Genova, Italy.|Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genova, Genova, Italy.|IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST Genova, Genova, Italy.
authors: Maria Cristina
authors: MC
authors: Mingari
authors: Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genova, Genova, Italy.|IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST Genova, Genova, Italy.|Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: De Maria
authors: Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Virology, Parasitology & Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium.
authors: Herman
authors: H
authors: Favoreel
authors: IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST Genova, Genova, Italy.
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Vitale
mesh_terms: D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D050130:Oncolytic Virotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D050504:Oncolytic Viruses / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000276:immunology
keywords: NK cells; immunotherapy; solid tumor; tumor escape; tumor microenvironment; virotherapy