• Find people
• Intranet

Natural Killer Cells in cancer immunotherapy

The team gathers researchers from Hospital del Mar Research Institute and Univ. Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) being coordinated by Dr. Aura Muntasell (ORCID; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2894-0486). Laboratories are located at the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB) and at the Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedina (IBB) premises.

The team has a broad and recognized experience in the study of human Natural Killer (NK) cell biology, involved in the immune response to certain microbial pathogens and tumors.

NK cells can recognize and eliminate transformed cells while facilitating the development of tumor-specific adaptive immunity by shaping the tumor microenvironment through the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Several mechanisms decreasing NK cell function had been described in cancer patients.

Cancer immunotherapy based on NK cells comprises a range of innovative strategies aimed at harnessing the natural potential of these immune system cells to fight cancer.

Our current lines of research include:

• Immunotherapy to enhance NK cells: Identification of target molecules that, can be leveraged with biological treatments to boost the function of NK lymphocytes in cancer patients.
• NK cells as biomarkers for oncological treatments: Study of NK cells as predictive indicators of response or resistance to treatments, specifically in patients with breast and colon cancer.
• Genetic engineering in NK cells: Development of NK lymphocytes resistant to the suppressive mechanisms of solid tumors as new approaches for adoptive cell therapy for cancer treatment.
• Adoptive cell therapy with NK lymphocytes: Development of protocols to optimize NK lymphocyte-based cancer cell therapy and patient monitoring.

Our research, builds on data from preclinical experimental systems and observational studies in collaboration with the Medical Oncology and Pathology Departments at Hospital del Mar.