Jeffrey Miller, MD, on Improving NK Cells for Solid and Hematologic Malignancies

“We've been really trying over and over to get these cells to be metabolically active and change their characteristics so they would survive longer based on the premise that we think survival for some finite period of time is going to be important for clinical activity.”

Allogeneic, natural killer (NK) cells are emerging as an area of research for treating hematologic and solid malignancies. Fate Therapeutics is developing multiple NK, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell, and CAR NK therapies for these indications and has worked closely with researchers from the University of Minnesota School of Medicine to develop their off-the-shelf NK cell therapies.

Jeffrey Miller, MD, professor of medicine, division of hematology, oncology, and transplantation, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, presented data on their research with NK cells as well as some updates on Fate’s clinical trials at the Onco Cell Therapy Summit (OCTS) USA 2022, held June 29-30 in Boston, Massachusetts.

CGTLive spoke with Miller to learn more about the advantages of NK cells in hematologic and solid malignancies. He discussed further research he wants to pursue with NK cells and shortcomings that need to be addressed.

REFERENCE

Miller J. iPSC-derived NK cells to treat cancer. Presented at: OCTS USA 2022, June 29-30, Boston, MA.