[Regenerative medicine] NK cell therapy
About NK cells
NK cell therapy is a type of cancer immunotherapy that utilizes the function of your own NK cells.
NK cells are one of the immune cells contained in lymphocytes, and are called "natural killer (NK) cells" because they are constantly capable of attacking foreign substances. When NK cells find abnormal cells such as cancer cells or virus-infected cells, they can attack them immediately on their own. T cells and B cells cannot attack unless they receive information about abnormal cells from antigen-presenting cells (antigen sensitization) and become activated. NK cells do not require antigen sensitization and can constantly attack abnormal cells. Due to this characteristic, NK cells play an important role in the development of cancer and defense against infectious diseases.
What is NK cell therapy?
This is a treatment that attacks cancer by extracting NK cells present in the blood collected from the patient, enhancing their ability to attack cancer cells, and then returning them to the body.
Blood collection
Centrifugation
Start of culture
Expanding NK cells in culture
It increases the proliferation of NK cells that fight cancer cells.
Administered intravenously to patients
Characteristics of NK cell therapy
● NK cells in the body have the ability to detect and attack cancer cells. By increasing and activating these NK cells, a strong attacking power against cancer can be achieved.
● NK cell therapy can also help prevent cancer recurrence and metastasis, as proliferated and activated NK cells circulate throughout the body.
● Since it uses NK cells, which are immune cells with a high ability to destroy cancer cells, it is said to be effective in a relatively short period of time.
*However, the effectiveness of this product varies from person to person.
● Since the patient's own lymphocytes are used, there are almost no side effects. It can be said that this treatment places less strain on the body.
● It can be used in combination with almost all cancer treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, palliative care, etc.).
Combination therapy with dendritic cell vaccine therapy
NK cells have the property of attacking cells that do not express MHC molecules, so when they find cancer cells that do not express MHC molecules, they immediately eliminate them. However, some cancer cells express MHC molecules, and such cells cannot be eliminated by NK cells. However, some MHC molecules expressed on cancer cells present markers of cancer, and in this case they become targets of attack by T cells.
The combined use of NK cell therapy and dendritic cell vaccine therapy makes it possible to eliminate both cancer cells that do not express MHC molecules and those that do express MHD molecules, so additive and synergistic effects can be expected.
Treatment Overview
This treatment is an elective medical treatment.
NK cell therapy process
1. Blood tests
Blood samples will be taken and tested to check the patient's overall condition and whether or not they have an infectious disease.
2. Peripheral Blood Collection
A blood sample is taken to generate activated NK cells.
3. Generation of NK Cells
NK cells obtained from peripheral blood are stimulated with cytokines such as IL-2 and IL-15 to produce activated NK cells (cytokines such as IL-2 are substances that are also present in the bodies of healthy individuals).
4. Administration of NK Cells
NK cells are administered intravenously over a period of about 30 minutes. The administration is generally done at intervals of 2 to 3 weeks, but may be done at longer intervals depending on the patient's condition.
Treatment period and frequency
The treatment plan will vary depending on the patient's condition and symptoms, so we will decide after you have undergone an examination and tests.
Cost (private medical treatment)
Please note that treatment will vary depending on the patient's condition and symptoms, so we will inform you of the treatment plan after it has been decided.
Side effects and risks
Studies conducted at university research institutes and other institutions have reported that side effects of this therapy are mild and rarely observed apart from fever.
About efficacy
This therapy has been reported to be effective against a wide range of cancers, including renal cell carcinoma and skin cancer (malignant melanoma), and its effectiveness against breast cancer and ovarian cancer (Cytotherapy. 2011.13:98.). In addition, it has been reported that by combining this therapy with an anticancer drug (docetaxel) in lung cancer (non-small cell lung cancer) that has progressed after anticancer drug treatment, the cancer did not worsen for more than three months in about half of the patients, and the cancer disappeared or shrank in about 10% of the patients (Anticancer Res. 2013.33:2115.).
At our hospital, we hope to improve the quality of life (QOLQOL) of patients as well as treat advanced cancer and prevent recurrence after cancer surgery. In addition, although the effectiveness has not yet been established, this therapy, which is administered to healthy people, is expected to have effects such as cancer prevention by improving immunity.
Regenerative medicine can only be provided by licensed doctors at facilities whose notification to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has been accepted. Our hospital is a medical facility that has submitted a Type 3 regenerative medicine provision plan and obtained a plan number under the Regenerative Medicine Act (Act on Ensuring the Safety of Regenerative Medicine, etc.).