title: Bench to bedside: NK cells and control of metastasis.
abstract: Natural killer (NK) cells play a critical role in host immune responses against tumor growth and metastasis. The numerous mechanisms used by NK cells to regulate and control cancer metastasis include interactions with tumor cells via specific receptors and ligands as well as direct cytotoxicity and cytokine-induced effector mechanisms. NK cells also play a role in tumor immunosurveillance and inhibition of metastases formation by recognition and killing of tumor cells. In this review, we provide an overview of the molecular mechanisms of NK cell responses against tumor metastases and discuss multiple strategies by which tumors evade NK cell-mediated surveillance. With an increasing understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving NK cell activity, there is a growing potential for the development of new cancer immunotherapies. Here we provide a historical background on NK cell-based therapies and discuss the implications of recent and ongoing clinical trials using novel NK cell-based immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Immunology in Cancer and Infection Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4006, Australia.
authors.forename: Yelena
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Krasnova
authors.affiliation: Immunology in Cancer and Infection Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia.
authors.forename: Eva Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Putz
authors.affiliation: Immunology in Cancer and Infection Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4006, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.affiliation: Immunology in Cancer and Infection Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4006, Australia. Electronic address: Fernando.Guimaraes@qimrberghofer.edu.au.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008024:Ligands; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000276:immunology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D008024:Ligands; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell
keywords: Antitumor control; Clinical trials and emerging therapies; Immunosurveillance; Integration of cellular signaling pathways; Metastasis; NK cells