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Harnessing the potential of CAR-NK cell therapy in gastrointestinal cancers: From bench to bedside - 17/08/25

Doi : 10.1016/j.biopha.2025.118380 
Ahmad Ghorbani Vanan a, b, 1, Mohammad Reza Askari c, 1, Kamyar Bagheri c, 1, Mohammad Reza Arghand d, 2, Farid Ghorbaninezhad b, 2, Safa Tahmasebi b, Milad Taghizadeh-Anvar b, Samaneh Nouri d, Elham Safarzadeh a, e,
a Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran 
b Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 
c Students Research Committee, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran 
d Students Research Committee, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran 
e Department of Microbiology, Parasitology, and Immunology, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran 

Corresponding author at: Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical SciencesArdabilIran

Abstract

Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, with gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies being among the most prevalent and lethal types. Traditional treatments for GI cancers, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, often result in severe side effects due to their lack of specificity. Among the various therapeutic strategies, immunotherapy has emerged as a promising and highly specific approach for treating GI cancers. Immunotherapeutic methods include the use of monoclonal antibodies with diverse specificities, as well as cell-based therapies. Engineered cell therapies, particularly those utilizing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, represent a forefront in innovative cancer treatment. While CAR-T cells have shown promise, CAR-NK cells offer distinct advantages, such as the ability to kill tumor cells independently of CAR signaling and their suitability for safe allogeneic transplantation.Given these benefits, CAR-NK cells have gained attention as either a complementary or alternative strategy to CAR-T cell therapy in GI cancers. Despite this potential, a comprehensive review specifically focused on CAR-NK therapy in GI malignancies has been lacking. The present study aims to address this gap by exploring the application of CAR-NK therapy in various GI cancers, including colorectal, pancreatic, hepatocellular, esophageal, gastric, and tongue cancers, highlighting the targeted tumor antigens and recent advancements in the field.

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Graphical Abstract




 : 

Chimeric antigen receptor natural killer (CAR-NK) cell therapy is an emerging immunotherapeutic strategy applied to various gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. In this illustration, diverse tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) targeted by CAR-NK cells are depicted across three cancer types: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), pancreatic cancer (PC), and esophageal cancer (EC). Each cancer is associated with specific surface antigens recognized by engineered NK cells, facilitating selective tumor cell elimination.


Chimeric antigen receptor natural killer (CAR-NK) cell therapy is an emerging immunotherapeutic strategy applied to various gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. In this illustration, diverse tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) targeted by CAR-NK cells are depicted across three cancer types: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), pancreatic cancer (PC), and esophageal cancer (EC). Each cancer is associated with specific surface antigens recognized by engineered NK cells, facilitating selective tumor cell elimination.

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Highlights

Conventional therapeutic approaches have demonstrated limited efficacy in achieving sustained clinical responses in patients with advanced-stage GI malignancies.
CAR-NK cells provide key advantages over CAR-T cells, including innate tumor-killing ability, reduced toxicity, and suitability for off-the-shelf allogeneic use.
CAR-NK cell efficacy can be modulated with immune checkpoint inhibitors, cytokines, and metabolic interventions to enhance treatment.
CAR-NK cell therapy shows promising results across Gastrointestinal cancers, targeting tumors like pancreatic, liver, colon, esophageal, tongue, and gastric cancers with specific antigens.
Preclinical and early clinical trials show that CAR-NK therapy is generally safer than CAR-T, with minimal cytokine release syndrome (CRS), neurotoxicity, or graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

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Keywords : CAR-NK cell, Cell therapy, Cancer, Gastrointestinal cancer, NK cell


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Vol 190

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