Chimeric antigen receptor NK cells for breast cancer immunotherapy

Abstract

Breast cancer, a predominant malignancy afflicting women globally, demands innovative therapeutic strategies beyond traditional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and endocrine therapy. Among the emerging therapies, immunotherapy has demonstrated substantial promise, particularly employing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology. This review elucidates the prospect of CAR-modified natural killer (NK) cells in treating breast cancer. NK cells, vital components of the immune system, possess the capability to non-specifically target and extinguish neoplastic cells. Through genetic engineering, CAR constructs targeting specific breast cancer antigens, including HER2, EGFR, PD-L1, MSLN, and Trop2, are integrated into NK cells, thereby enhancing their tumor recognition and cytotoxicity. The review delves into the structural optimization of CAR-NK cells, discussing design elements such as scFv, hinge regions, and activation signals, and emphasizes strategies to augment CAR-NK cell functionality and persistence within the tumor microenvironment. Combining CAR-NK cells with other therapeutic modalities (such as chemotherapy and checkpoint inhibitors) is explored to enhance therapeutic efficacy. Preclinical researches emphasized the efficacy of CAR-NK cells in targeting breast cancer cells, paving the way for future clinical applications and offering hope for improved outcomes in breast cancer patients.