natural killer T cell therapy

Natural killer T (NKT) cell therapy is an adoptive cellular immunotherapy being developed by investigator Minghui Zhang for the treatment of advanced solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer, gastric cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and colorectal cancer. NKT cells are a unique population of lymphocytes that express both T-cell receptors (TCRs) and natural killer (NK) cell markers. They recognize glycolipid antigens presented by the MHC class I-like molecule CD1d. Upon activation, these cells exert anti-tumor activity through direct cytotoxicity—mediated by the release of perforin and granzymes—and the rapid production of cytokines such as interferon-gamma and interleukin-4, which orchestrate a broader immune response by activating NK cells, dendritic cells, and cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Other names

NKT cell therapynatural killer T cell infusion