Research Progress of NK Cells in Glioblastoma Treatment

Abstract

NK cells are a type of antitumor immune cell with promising clinical application, following T cells. The activity of NK cells is primarily regulated by their surface receptors and immune microenvironment. In gliomas, the tumor microenvironment exerts a strong immunosuppressive effect, which significantly reduces the clinical efficacy of NK cell immunotherapy. Therefore, this review aims to discuss the latest research on the role of NK cells in glioma immunotherapy, focusing on aspects such as NK cell development, function, and localization. It summarizes information on the compounds, monoclonal antibodies, and cytokine therapies targeting NK cells while emphasizing the current status and trends of gene-modified NK cells in glioma treatment. Additionally, it explores the molecular mechanisms underlying immune escape in glioma cells, providing a theoretical foundation and new perspectives for NK cell-based immunotherapy in gliomas.