By ScienceDAily –
Researchers have found a way to make cancer-killing immune cells more powerful and precise. By adding specific signaling components, they boosted the cells’ readiness to attack tumors. Surprisingly, briefly suppressing the cells with a drug before use made them even more effective later. The approach could help create safer, stronger next-gen cancer treatments.
Researchers in Brazil are advancing a promising form of cancer immunotherapy by making natural killer (NK) cells more powerful and precise. In a recent study, scientists at the Ribeirão Preto Blood Center and the Center for Cell-Based Therapy (CTC) used the NK-92 cell line to test new designs of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). These engineered receptors included specific costimulatory components, such as 2B4 and DAP12, that help activate the cells. The findings showed that these additions made the cells “ready to attack,” significantly improving their ability to destroy tumor cells. The study was published in Frontiers in Immunology.
