mRNA-modified cytokine-induced killer cells

mRNA-modified cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells are an investigational adoptive cell therapy developed by Beijing GoBroad Hospital for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r B-ALL). CIK cells are a heterogeneous population of T lymphocytes that express both CD3 and CD56 markers, typically generated by ex vivo expansion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the presence of cytokines such as IFN-gamma and IL-2. These cells exhibit potent, non-MHC-restricted anti-tumor activity, primarily mediated through the NKG2D receptor. In this specific therapeutic approach, the CIK cells are modified with messenger RNA (mRNA) to enhance their functional properties, such as improving persistence or counteracting the early functional exhaustion of co-administered CAR-T cells. The therapy is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2 clinical trial involving children, adolescents, and young adults to improve event-free survival in patients with r/r B-ALL.

Other names

messenger RNA-modified CIK cellsmRNA-modified cytokine-induced killer cell therapymessenger ribonucleic acid-modified cytokine-induced killer cell