Bench to bedside: NK cells and control of metastasis

Natural killer (NK) cells play a critical role in host immune responses against tumor growth and metastasis. The numerous mechanisms used by NK cells to regulate and control cancer metastasis include interactions with tumor cells via specific receptors and ligands as well as direct cytotoxicity and cytokine-induced effector mechanisms. NK cells also play a role in tumor immunosurveillance and inhibition of metastases formation by recognition and killing of tumor cells. In this review, we provide an overview of the molecular mechanisms of NK cell responses against tumor metastases and discuss multiple strategies by which tumors evade NK cell-mediated surveillance. With an increasing understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving NK cell activity, there is a growing potential for the development of new cancer immunotherapies. Here we provide a historical background on NK cell-based therapies and discuss the implications of recent and ongoing clinical trials using novel NK cell-based immunotherapy.