McGill Researchers Supercharge NK Cells with Protein
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- McGill University researchers blocked two proteins in NK cells, boosting their cancer‑killing activity in preclinical models.
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute used small‑molecule drugs to temporarily boost NK cell activity, providing a reversible alternative to permanent genetic engineering.
- McGill University's enhanced NK cells killed human leukemia, glioblastoma, kidney and triple‑negative breast cancer cells and slowed tumor growth in animal studies.
- Michel L. Tremblay called the approach promising for patients with few options after standard treatments fail.
- Pierre Laneuville and Linda Peltier cultured and stored cord‑blood NK cells for multi‑patient use, addressing scalability challenges.
Why it matters: Patients with aggressive cancers such as leukemia or triple‑negative breast cancer gain a potentially safer, reversible immunotherapy; biotech firms can lower manufacturing costs and expand access using cord‑blood NK cells.
