MIT scientists turn immune cells into cancer killers inside the body

Key Points:

• MIT researchers have developed a method to engineer natural killer (NK) cells inside the body using lipid nanoparticles that deliver mRNA instructions, enabling these cells to recognize and destroy harmful T cells involved in cancers and autoimmune diseases.
• This in vivo approach bypasses the complex and costly laboratory process traditionally required for manufacturing CAR NK or CAR T cell therapies, potentially simplifying treatment and reducing expenses.
• In mouse models, the technique successfully reprogrammed NK cells to eliminate tumors, including melanoma and T cell lymphoma, with outcomes comparable to conventional CAR NK cell therapies.
• The method also reversed autoimmune hepatitis in mice by targeting and removing autoreactive T cells, leading to liver tissue healing after a single nanoparticle injection.
• While promising for treating a range of cancers and autoimmune conditions, further research is needed to confirm safety and effectiveness in humans; the study was published in Nature Biotechnology and funded by Sanofi and the National Cancer Institute.