Natural killer cells as potential tools in melanoma metastatic spread control.

摘要

A large basic knowledge is now available on natural killer (NK) cell biology in mice and humans. Intensive research during the 1990s has clarified many aspects on the specificity and receptors of NK cells. It is now possible to apply this knowledge to the study of NK cell responses in important medical problems. The general aim of this commentary is to focus the attention of clinical and basic immunologists and oncologists on the possible involvement of NK cells in new biologically oriented antitumor protocols. Here we comment on the more recent studies of NK cell recognition of melanoma cells, with particular emphasis on the NK-activating and -inhibiting receptors and their ligands regulating NK cytotoxicity.