Study Reveals Trade-Off in CAR-NK Cell Survival and Function

A new study led by Dr. Robin Parihar at Texas Children’s Cancer & Hematology Center and Baylor College of Medicine has uncovered a critical challenge in advancing CAR-NK cell therapies for pediatric cancers. Published in The Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, the research explores the effects of a synthetic IL-7 receptor (C7R) designed to enhance the survival of CAR-NK cells in solid tumors. 

While the engineered receptor successfully prolonged cell survival without external cytokines, it also triggered a stress response that diminished the cells’ ability to kill cancer over time. Using preclinical models of neuroblastoma and CD19⁺ leukemia, the team found that although C7R improved persistence in both tumor types, it failed to maintain long-term tumor control. 

“Our findings highlight the need for more nuanced cytokine engineering—and pave the way for future CAR-NK therapies that balance survival signals with mechanisms that preserve cytotoxic function in the tumor microenvironment,” said Dr. Parihar. 

The collaborative effort included researchers from Texas Children’s Hospital, the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, and Houston Methodist, with support from Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation and the American Cancer Society. 

Read the full article: https://jitc.bmj.com/content/13/7/e010672