Researchers at Harvard and MIT have developed genetically modified “natural killer” cells that destroyed cancer in mice within weeks while avoiding dangerous immune reactions seen in conventional therapies.
Scientists at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created a new type of immune cell that could revolutionize cancer treatment.
The modified “natural killer” (CAR-NK) cells eliminated cancerous tumors in mice within three weeks and proved safer than standard CAR-T cell therapy.
Natural killer cells, part of the body’s immune defense, attack harmful invaders without prior training. Researchers genetically modified these cells to avoid rejection by the immune system by silencing genes that trigger T-cell attacks. “This enables us to do one-step engineering of CAR-NK cells that can avoid rejection by host T cells and other immune cells,” said Professor Jianzhu Chen of MIT. “And they kill cancer cells better and they’re safer.”
The study, published in Nature Communications, found that mice treated with the engineered cells nearly eliminated lymphoma, while those given standard therapies saw no improvement. Unlike CAR-T treatments, which can cause cytokine release syndrome—a potentially fatal immune reaction—the new CAR-NK cells reduced that risk.
Researchers say the streamlined genetic process could allow “off-the-shelf” production of these cancer-fighting cells, offering faster, more accessible treatment options for patients.