Table 3

Selected results of clinical studies on NK cell-based immunotherapy

StudyNK cell infusion regimenResults
In non-transplant setting
In advanced AMLMiller, 2014Haplo-NK, activated with IL-2, Flu/CyFive of 19 (26%) patients achieved CR
Bachanova, 2014Haplo-NK, depletion of Tregs, activation of IL-2, Flu/CyEight of 15 patients (53%) achieved remission at day 28, CR (n = 3), (CRp; n = 2), and CRi (n = 3)
Cooley, 2019Haplo-NK cells given with rhIL-15, Flu/CyFourteen of 40 patients (35%) achieved CR/CRi
In MRD positive AMLZhao, 2020IL-21/4-1BBL-expanded NK cellchemotherapy with Flu/Cy or anthracyclines/CyEffective rates were 50% or 60% in Flu/Cy (n = 10) or anthracyclines/Cy (n = 10); DFS was clearly better in the NK group than in the historical group
As consolidation or maintenanceJiang, 2019IL-21/4-1BBL-expanded NK cell infusion during 4 to 7 courses of chemotherapyThe 3-year LFS was better in the NK group than in the control group (65.1% vs. 43.5%, P = 0.047)
Nguyen, 2019Haplo-NK, activated with IL-2, Flu/CyNK cells did not improve EFS (60.7% vs. 69.1%; P = 0.553) over chemotherapy alone
In transplant setting
Post-HSCTChoi, 2014Donor-derived, IL-15 plus IL-21-stimulated CD3-depleted NK cells on days 14 and 21 post HSCTPost-transplantation NK cells significantly decreased leukemia progression (74% to 46%, P = 0.038)
Choi, 2016Additional donor NK-cell infusions given on days 6 and 9 in addition to 14 and 21 post HSCTCompared with the above study findings, an additional NK infusion on days 6 and 9 was not associated with less leukemia progression
Pre-HSCTLee, 2016IL-2 activated NK cell infusion after conditioning chemotherapy and before stem cell infusionDurable CR occurred in 5 of 21 patients
Ciurea, 2017mbIL21 ex vivo expanded donor-derived NK cells on days −2, +7, and +28The incidence was significantly lower in the NK group than in the control group for CMV reactivation (30.8%) (70.4%, P = 0.01)

CRp, CR without platelet recovery; CRi, CR with incomplete recovery.