Umbilical cord blood-derived natural killer cells: in vitro, in vivo, and clinical antitumor activity in non-small cell lung cancer (case series).

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer remains a globally burdensome disease with high mortality. While current non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatments - surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immune checkpoint inhibitor-based immunotherapy - have modestly improved outcomes, drug resistance and severe side effects limit efficacy, highlighting the urgent need for alternative therapies.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This study assessed the therapeutic potential of umbilical cord blood-derived natural killer (UCB-NK) cells in NSCLC via in vitro, in vivo, and clinical analyses. In vitro cytotoxicity of expanded UCB-NK cells was evaluated against NSCLC cell lines (A549, NCI-H1975) at various effector-to-target (E:T) ratios. In vivo antitumor efficacy was examined in A549-bearing NCG (NOD-Prkdcem26Cd52Il2rgem26Cd22/Gpt) mice treated with UCB-NK cells combined with IL-2. Additionally, a clinical case series of five NSCLC patients receiving multimodal therapy plus UCB-NK infusions was evaluated.

RESULTS

In vitro, expanded UCB-NK cells showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity against NSCLC cell lines, achieving up to 80% tumor cell lysis at E:T ratios of 5:1 and 10:1. In A549-bearing NCG mice, UCB-NK/IL-2 combination therapy significantly reduced tumor volume by 25.59% and tumor weight by 26.5% compared to IL-2 monotherapy (P < 0.01). Clinical evaluation of five NSCLC cases receiving multimodal therapy plus UCB-NK infusions demonstrated disease stabilization.

CONCLUSION

UCB-NK cells hold promise as an alternative therapeutic approach for NSCLC, with the potential to combine with other therapies to improve survival and quality of life. However, large-scale clinical studies are needed to verify safety and optimize treatment protocols.