Haploidentical NK cell therapy (University of Minnesota)

This haploidentical natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy, developed at the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, is an adoptive cellular therapy designed for high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The process involves collecting NK cells from a haploidentical related donor, followed by ex vivo purification (depletion of CD3+ T cells and CD19+ B cells) and activation with cytokines such as Interleukin-2 (IL-2) or Interleukin-15 (IL-15). Patients undergo lymphodepleting chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine prior to the infusion of the activated NK cells to facilitate in vivo expansion. The donor NK cells exert anti-leukemic effects through direct cytotoxicity, triggered by the recognition of tumor cells that lack self-MHC class I molecules (missing-self recognition) or express stress-induced ligands. This therapy often serves as a bridge to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with relapsed or refractory disease.

Other names

Haploidentical NK cellsAllogeneic NK cellsIL-2 activated NK cellsIL2 activated NK cellsIL 2 activated NK cellsUMN NK cell therapyNK cells-Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota-acute myeloid leukemia-myelodysplastic syndrome