Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment: Genetically Engineered NK Cell Therapy
Recent research published in Science Advances (May 2, 2025) by CCR scientists, led by Raffit Hassan, M.D., and Qun Jiang, Ph.D., has demonstrated a powerful new method for producing NK cells using stem cells. By genetically programming stem cells to generate NK cells equipped with specialized receptors, researchers can create immune cells capable of targeting and destroying solid tumors.
Unlike highly personalized T-cell therapies, NK cell–based treatments can be manufactured in bulk from healthy donor cells. This “off-the-shelf” approach eliminates the risk of graft-versus-host disease and allows for faster, more scalable cancer immunotherapies.
The CCR team introduced two critical genetic enhancements into stem cells:
Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CARs) that recognize mesothelin, a protein found on many solid tumors.
IL-15, a gene that promotes NK cell development, proliferation, and activation.
These engineered NK cells showed remarkable effectiveness in lab and animal studies, efficiently targeting pancreatic, gastric, ovarian, and mesothelioma cancer cells, shrinking tumors, and infiltrating tumor tissues. Key to their success is the combination of the mesothelin-targeting antibody and IL-15 expression, which supports the NK cells’ persistence in the tumor environment.
As research continues, our team remains dedicated to refining NK cell therapies to maximize their effectiveness and safety, providing patients with therapies that empower the body’s natural ability to heal and fight disease.
At Stems for Life SMA, we offer advanced Natural Killer (NK) Cell Therapy, a revolutionary immune-based treatment designed to target and destroy cancer cells.
Learn more about our NK Cell Therapy and how it can support immune health at StemsForLife.com