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Natural killer cells and acute myeloid leukemia: promises and challenges

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Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is considered as one of the most malignant conditions of the bone marrow. Over the past few decades, despite substantial progresses in the management of AML, relapse remission remains a major problem. Natural killer cells (NK cells) are known as a unique component of the innate immune system. Due to swift tumor detection, distinct cytotoxic action, and extensive immune interaction, NK cells have been used in various cancer settings for decades. It has been a growing knowledge of therapeutic magnitudes ranging from adoptive NK cell transfer to chimeric antigen receptor NK cells, aiming to achieve better therapeutic responses in patients with AML. In this article, the potentials of NK cells for treatment of AML are highlighted, and challenges for such therapeutic methods are discussed. In addition, the clinical application of NK cells, mainly in patients with AML, is pictured according to the existing evidence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Shayan Rahmani

  2. School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Niloufar Yazdanpanah

  3. Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children’s Medical Center Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Dr. Qarib St, Keshavarz Blvd, Tehran, 14194, Iran

    Niloufar Yazdanpanah & Nima Rezaei

  4. Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran

    Shayan Rahmani, Niloufar Yazdanpanah & Nima Rezaei

  5. Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Nima Rezaei

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SR conceptualized the title, collected the data, designed the figures, and prepared the first draft of the manuscript. NY edited and revised the manuscript and finalized the draft. NR critically revised the manuscript, edited and finalized the draft, and supervised the project. All the authors have read and approved the final draft of the manuscript.

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Rahmani, S., Yazdanpanah, N. & Rezaei, N. Natural killer cells and acute myeloid leukemia: promises and challenges. Cancer Immunol Immunother 71, 2849–2867 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-022-03217-1

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