haploidentical natural killer cell infusion

This is an investigational adoptive cellular immunotherapy developed by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, utilizing haploidentical natural killer (NK) cell infusions for the treatment of pediatric patients with chemotherapy-refractory non-AML hematologic malignancies. The therapeutic process involves the administration of purified NK cells obtained from partially HLA-matched (haploidentical) adult donors following a lymphodepleting chemotherapy regimen consisting of clofarabine, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide. Post-infusion, patients receive interleukin-2 (IL-2) to promote the transient engraftment and expansion of the donor NK cells. The mechanism of action relies on the innate ability of NK cells to identify and exert direct cytotoxicity against malignant cells, bypassing the need for prior antigen exposure. This approach is being evaluated in a Phase 1 pilot study for conditions including acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

Other names

Haploidentical NK cell therapyNK cell infusionHaploidentical natural killer cell therapy