NKGen Biotech Plans Allogeneic NK Cell Therapy Presentation at Immuno-Oncology Summit

Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial components of the innate immune response against cancer, capable of directly targeting tumor cells without prior sensitization. However, tumors have developed sophisticated mechanisms to evade NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity, including remodeling their actin cytoskeleton to recruit inhibitory ligands like HLA molecules to the immunological synapse, which suppresses NK cell activation. Additionally, cancer cells exploit immune checkpoint pathways, engaging inhibitory receptors such as TIGIT, PD-1, and NKG2A on NK cells to dampen their anti-tumor functions, contributing to NK cell exhaustion and tumor immune evasion. Advances in NK cell therapies, such as NKGen Biotech's allogeneic NK cell therapy SNK02, offer promising approaches to treat solid tumors without requiring lymphodepletion, thus preserving T cell activity and enhancing therapeutic potential. Clinical trials targeting these NK cell checkpoints, especially using dual blockade of TIGIT and PD-1, have demonstrated significant improvements in progression-free survival in cancer patients, highlighting new avenues for cancer immunotherapy. These scientific insights and therapeutic innovations underscore the emerging role of NK cells in transforming cancer treatment by overcoming tumor immune evasion strategies.