CCCR-NK92 cells

CCCR-NK92 cells are a type of modified natural killer (NK) cell therapy being developed for cancer treatment. These cells are engineered with chimeric costimulatory converting receptors (CCCR) based on the NK-92 cell line, which is a well-established natural killer cell line originally derived from a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma[1][3]. ## Background and Development NK-92 is a permanent, interleukin-2 (IL-2) dependent natural killer cell line established in 1992 from the peripheral blood of a 50-year-old male patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma[1]. The NK-92 cell line has been extensively studied and shows promising cytotoxic activity against various cancer types in preclinical and clinical studies[1][5]. CCCR-NK92 cells represent an advancement of this platform, where the NK-92 cells have been genetically modified with chimeric costimulatory converting receptors to enhance their anti-tumor activity[2][4]. This modification allows the NK cells to better recognize and bind to tumor cells, leading to the secretion and release of perforins that can destroy cancer cells[2]. ## Mechanism of Action Upon infusion, CCCR-modified NK-92 cells recognize and bind to tumor cells through their engineered receptors[2]. This binding triggers the release of cytotoxic molecules such as perforins, which create pores in the cancer cell membrane, ultimately leading to tumor cell death[2]. This mechanism is similar to antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), but engineered to be more potent and specific[5]. ## Development Status CCCR-NK92 appears to be in development by Xinxiang Medical University as of January 2022[4]. The therapy falls into the category of "off-the-shelf" cellular therapeutics, meaning it could potentially be manufactured in advance and used for multiple patients without the need for personalized manufacturing[1][5]. ## Advantages The NK-92 platform offers several advantages as a cellular therapy: 1. Unlike T cell therapies, NK cell therapies do not cause graft-versus-host disease, making them potentially safer for allogeneic (donor to patient) use[1]. 2. NK-92 cells can be irradiated to prevent proliferation while maintaining their cytotoxic function, adding another safety feature[3]. 3. As an "off-the-shelf" therapy, CCCR-NK92 could potentially be more accessible and less costly than personalized cell therapies[1][5]. The development of CCCR-NK92 represents part of a broader trend in engineering NK-92 cells with various receptors to enhance their anti-cancer activity, similar to CAR-T cell approaches but with potential safety and manufacturing advantages[5].

Other names

chimeric costimulatory converting receptor-modified NK-92 cells