| CAR-Engineered Natural Killer Cells: Shaping the Future of Cancer Immunotherapy |
| Paper ID : 1274-IGA |
| Authors |
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Manal Mohamed Elsayed Ahmed * Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, Egypt |
| Abstract |
| CAR-Engineered Natural Killer Cells: Shaping the Future of Cancer Immunotherapy Manal M E Ahmed Pharmacology Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt Email: thinktankteam2014@gmail.com | Phone: +20 1093627027 Abstract Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology has revolutionized cancer therapy, and natural killer (NK) cells are rapidly emerging as the next-generation platform in this field. Unlike T cells, NK cells combine antigen-specific targeting with innate cytotoxicity while minimizing the risks of graft-versus-host disease and severe cytokine release syndrome—two major limitations of CAR-T therapy. This unique safety and efficacy profile positions CAR-NK cells as an innovative and transformative therapeutic strategy. Recent clinical trials have reported encouraging outcomes in hematologic malignancies, and efforts are now directed toward tackling the greater challenge of solid tumors. The availability of diverse NK cell sources—including peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood, and induced pluripotent stem cells—offers scalable “off-the-shelf” solutions that may broaden patient access worldwide. However, hurdles remain, such as limited persistence, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments, and manufacturing complexities. To address these challenges, researchers are pioneering strategies such as cytokine armoring, checkpoint blockade, and multiplex genetic engineering to enhance durability and overcome resistance. With these innovations, CAR-NK cell therapy is poised not only to complement but potentially to surpass existing immunotherapies, offering a safer, more universal, and highly adaptable approach to cancer treatment. This review provides an updated perspective on the development, advantages, and current challenges of CAR-NK cells, underscoring their lower toxicity, “off-the-shelf” potential, and applicability in both blood cancers and solid tumors. Technological innovations, clinical trials, and synthetic biology strategies are also explored, highlighting the future trajectory of CAR-NK therapies. Keywords: CAR-NK cells, immunotherapy, cancer, genetic engineering, next-generation therapeutics |
| Keywords |
| CAR-NK cells, immunotherapy, cancer, genetic engineering, next-generation therapeutics |
| Status: Accepted |
