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World J Clin Oncol. Jul 24, 2020; 11(7): 464-476
Published online Jul 24, 2020. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v11.i7.464
Why natural killer cells in triple negative breast cancer?
Mustafa Abdel-Latif, Rana Ahmed Youness
Mustafa Abdel-Latif, Biotechnology Program, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University in Cairo, Cairo 11835, Egypt
Rana Ahmed Youness, Pharmaceutical Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University in Cairo, Cairo 11835, Egypt
Author contributions: Abdel-Latif M contributed in literature reviewing, manuscript writing and editing; Youness RA contributed in designation, revision and correction of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Rana Ahmed Youness, BSc, PhD, Lecturer, Research Associate, Pharmaceutical Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University in Cairo, El Tagamoa El Khames, Cairo 11835, Egypt. rana.youness21@gmail.com
Received: March 12, 2020
Peer-review started: March 12, 2020
First decision: April 22, 2020
Revised: April 28, 2020
Accepted: May 29, 2020
Article in press: May 29, 2020
Published online: July 24, 2020
Abstract

The triple-negative subtype of breast cancer (TNBC) has the bleakest prognosis, owing to its lack of either hormone receptor as well as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. Henceforth, immunotherapy has emerged as the front-runner for TNBC treatment, which avoids potentially damaging chemotherapeutics. However, despite its documented association with aggressive side effects and developed resistance, immune checkpoint blockade continues to dominate the TNBC immunotherapy scene. These immune checkpoint blockade drawbacks necessitate the exploration of other immunotherapeutic methods that would expand options for TNBC patients. One such method is the exploitation and recruitment of natural killer cells, which by harnessing the innate rather than adaptive immune system could potentially circumvent the downsides of immune checkpoint blockade. In this review, the authors will elucidate the advantageousness of natural killer cell-based immuno-oncology in TNBC as well as demonstrate the need to more extensively research such therapies in the future.

Keywords: Triple negative breast cancer, Natural killer cells, Immune checkpoint blockades, Programmed death-ligand 1, Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4, Natural killer lectin-like group 2 member D

Core tip: Triple-negative breast cancer patients have the worst prognosis and conventional therapeutic approaches. Triple-negative breast cancer patients are considered the patients of choice for immunotherapy. We are shedding light on immune checkpoint blockades, such as programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitors, and its recently discovered side effects and resistance. In this context, we highlight a potential weapon known as the innate immune system and its native soldiers, which are the natural killer cells.