自然杀伤细胞在急性髓细胞白血病治疗中的研究进展

Advancements in the Therapeutic Application of Natural Killer Cells in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

急性髓细胞白血病(Acute Myeloid Leukemia, AML)是一种具有异质性遗传格局和复杂克隆进化特征的侵袭性血液系统恶性肿瘤。这种病在各个年龄段都有可能发生,而且随着年龄的增长,发病率也会越来越高。目前治疗AML面临着原发耐药和早期复发等挑战,因此需要寻找新的治疗方法。免疫治疗主要通过激活机体免疫反应来攻击肿瘤细胞,而不同于传统的化学疗法。造血干细胞移植也是依赖于供体免疫细胞对宿主白血球进行攻击和消灭以达到治疗白血病的目的。近年来,免疫治疗在AML治疗中受到越来越多的关注,以增强免疫应答为目的的新型抗肿瘤治疗策略的兴起,使自然杀伤(Nature Kill, NK)细胞成为备受关注的领域。NK细胞是一种可以直接识别抗原、非特异性地杀伤肿瘤细胞的机体固有免疫系统的细胞毒性淋巴细胞,是机体防御系统的第一道屏障。本文将对目前在急性髓系白血病治疗中NK细胞及其应用进展的机制探索进行总结。Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy characterized by a heterogeneous genetic profile and complex clonal evolution. AML can occur across all age groups, with an increasing incidence as age advances. Current treatment of AML is challenged by primary resistance and early relapse, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic strategies. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, immunotherapy targets tumor cells by activating the body’s immune response. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation also relies on donor immune cells to attack and eradicate host leukemic cells, serving as a therapeutic approach for leukemia. In recent years, immunotherapy has garnered growing attention in the treatment of AML. The emergence of novel anti-tumor strategies aimed at enhancing immune responses has highlighted the importance of natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes of the innate immune system, capable of directly recognizing antigens and non-specifically killing tumor cells, serving as the first line of defense in the body’s immune system. This review will summarize the current mechanistic insights and therapeutic advancements in the application of NK cells in the treatment of AML.