Natural killer cell biology and therapy in multiple myeloma: challenges and opportunities – Experimental Hematology & Oncology
Despite therapeutic advancements, multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable. NK cells have emerged as a promising option for the treatment of MM. NK cells are heterogenous and typically classified based on the relative expression of their surface markers (e.g., CD56 and CD16a). These cells elicit an antitumor response in the presence of low mutational burden and without neoantigen presentation via germline-encoded activating and inhibitory receptors that identify the markers of transformation present on the MM cells. Higher NK cell activity is associated with improved survival and prognosis, whereas lower activity is associated with advanced clinical stage and disease progression in MM. Moreover, not all NK cell phenotypes contribute equally toward the anti-MM effect; higher proportions of certain NK cell phenotypes result in better outcomes. In MM, the proportion, phenotype, and function of NK cells are drastically varied between different disease stages; this is further influenced by t
