cetuximab + NK cells

Cetuximab + NK cells is an investigational combination immunotherapy consisting of the monoclonal antibody cetuximab and adoptive or ex vivo expanded natural killer (NK) cell therapy. Cetuximab is an IgG1 chimeric monoclonal antibody that targets the extracellular domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), blocking ligand binding and downstream signaling. In addition to direct EGFR inhibition, cetuximab can engage immune effector functions by binding to FcγRIIIa (CD16) on NK cells, thereby inducing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). The combination leverages this mechanism by providing both targeted anti-EGFR activity and enhanced innate immune-mediated tumor cell killing via adoptively transferred or expanded NK cells. This approach aims to improve anti-tumor efficacy in cancers such as metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCCHN), and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including tumors with RAS or BRAF mutations that are less responsive to EGFR blockade alone[1][2][5][6]. Early-phase clinical trials are ongoing.

Other names

cetuximab and NK cellscetuximab plus natural killer cellscetuximab combined with NK cell therapy