Health

Researchers develop method to supercharge natural killer cells against solid tumors

Scientists at Stanford Medicine modified immune cells to infiltrate solid tumors, slowing cancer growth in mouse studies.

Updated Aug 25, 2026 · 13:49 UTC1 reports

The short version

Stanford Medicine researchers developed a method to convert human blood-derived natural killer cells into tissue-resident cells that can penetrate solid tumors.
In mouse experiments, the modified cells slowed the growth of melanoma and head and neck cancers, showing enhanced effects when paired with the antibody drug cetuximab.
Because natural killer cells do not typically trigger an immune reaction between individuals, researchers hope to create an off-the-shelf therapy that can be frozen and distributed to multiple patients.
The team is preparing a Phase I clinical trial in humans with advanced squamous cell carcinoma, pending FDA approval.

Researchers transformed blood-derived natural killer cells into tissue-resident forms by briefly exposing them to short-lived human epithelial tumor cells and specific TGF-beta signaling.[ScienceDaily]
The highly effective cancer-killing tissue-resident cells expressed the surface proteins CD39, CD49a, and CD103, alongside higher levels of perforin and granzyme A.[ScienceDaily]
When tested in mice, the modified cells slowed the growth of human melanoma and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tumors, with enhanced tumor suppression observed when combined with cetuximab.[ScienceDaily]
Natural killer cells collected from a single donor can yield approximately 20 treatment doses in about two weeks using the expanding method.[ScienceDaily]
Senior author John Sunwoo applied to patent the production process for the cytotoxic tissue-resident natural killer cells.[ScienceDaily]

The therapy has only been tested as a proof of concept in mouse models and laboratory organoids, so its safety and efficacy in humans remain unknown.[ScienceDaily]
The planned Phase I clinical trial for patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma requires regulatory approval from the FDA before it can begin.[ScienceDaily]