alpha-EphA2 CAR NK cells

alpha-EphA2 CAR NK cells are an investigational cell therapy consisting of natural killer (NK) cells engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting the Ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EphA2). Developed by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, these cells often utilize a memory-like (ML) differentiation state—induced by cytokine activation with IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18—to enhance persistence and anti-tumor activity. The CAR construct typically includes a CD8A hinge/transmembrane domain, a 4-1BB (CD137) costimulatory domain, and a CD3ζ signaling domain. This therapy is primarily being explored for the treatment of EphA2-positive solid tumors, such as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), where it may be used alone or in combination with monoclonal antibodies like cetuximab to overcome tumor resistance and immune dysfunction.

Other names

EphA2 CAR-NK cellsEphA-2 CAR-NK cellsEphA 2 CAR-NK cellsEphA2-targeted memory-like CAR-NK cellsEphA-2-targeted memory-like CAR-NK cellsEphA 2-targeted memory-like CAR-NK cellsalpha-EphA2 CAR-CD8A-41BB-CD3z NK cellsalpha-EphA-2 CAR-CD8A-41BB-CD3z NK cellsalpha-EphA 2 CAR-CD8A-41BB-CD3z NK cells