Work

Directly reprogrammed NK cells driven by BCL11B depletion enhance targeted immunotherapy against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal malignancy characterized by desmoplastic stroma, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), and resistance to standard therapies. Natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapies have shown limited efficacy due to impaired persistence, infiltration, and function in PDAC. METHODS: We established a direct reprogramming strategy to generate cytotoxic NK cells (1 F-NKs) by targeting BCL11B, a transcription factor essential for T cell lineage commitment, using shRNA or CRISPR/Cas9 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). A genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen identified tumor-intrinsic modulators of NK resistance. Functional and in vivo studies assesses the efficacy of 1 F-NKs alone and in combination with mesothelin (MSLN)-CAR engineering and PKMYT1 inhibition. RESULTS: 1 F-NKs with potent cytotoxicity and elevated NKG2D and CX3CR1 expression. Site-specific integration of a mesothelin (MSLN)-CAR into BCL11B locus generated MSLN-1 F-NKs with stable antigen specific activity. A genome-wide screen identified PKMYT1 as a modulator of tumor resistance to NK cell-mediated killing; its inhibition by RP6306 upregulated NKG2D ligands (MICA/B) and CX3CL1, sensitizing PDACs to 1 F-NK cytotoxicity. In PDAC xenograft models, 1 F-NKs alone or combined with CAR engineering and RP6306 significantly reduced tumor growth and prolonged survival. Notably, this triple combination elicited a synergistic antitumor effect, outperforming each monotherapy or dual combination. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents a synergistic immunotherapy platform that integrates NK reprogramming, CAR engineering, and tumor sensitization. The combinatorial approach significantly enhances antitumor efficacy in PDAC and offers a promising strategy for overcoming immune resistance in solid tumors.

Source: Journal of Hematology & Oncology

DOI: 10.1186/s13045-025-01730-1

Authors: Han-Seop Kim, Jae Yun Kim, Ji-Young Lee, Binna Seol, Ji Eun Choi, Yee Sook Cho

Institutions: Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Korea University of Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Immune Cell Function and Interaction

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $4,990