Understanding NK Cells in Kidney Cancer Treatment

Natural killer cells, also referred to as NK cells, play several major roles in a patient’s defense against cancers like renal cell carcinoma, according to Dr. Wenxin (Vincent) Xu, a physician at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

“[Natural killer cells] are interesting [in regard to] kidney cancer because, at least in theory, these cells should have some effect against the tumor if we can make them more active,” Xu emphasized in an interview with CURE.

Xu goes on to explain that these cells act as a way that the body fights off unwanted diseases (like cancer), and refers to them as a backup part of the immune system that has the capability to detect things that shouldn’t be in the body.

In the interview, Xu walked through exactly what natural killer cells are, what patients should know about them, and how they could help fight kidney cancer in a way traditional therapy cannot. Moreover, he discussed the major roles of these killer cells.

Xu is also a medical oncologist and clinical trial investigator at the Lank Center Genitourinary Oncology, as well as an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, located in Boston.

Transcript

What are “memory-like” NK cells, and how could they help fight kidney cancer in a way traditional therapy can’t?

Natural killer cells, or NK cells, are a type of immune cell that is normally found in the body. As part of the immune system, natural killer cells have several major roles, including fighting viruses and cancer cells. Some things that don't belong in the body can try to escape the immune system by downregulating MHC1, so they don't have the specific proteins that other immune cells, like T cells, can recognize.

Natural killer cells are a type of cell that doesn't rely on this, so it's a kind of backup part of your immune system that can detect these kinds of problems. This makes it interesting for kidney cancer because, at least in theory, these cells should have some effect against the tumor if we can make them more active.

This piece reflects the author’s personal experience and perspective. For medical advice, please consult your health care provider.

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