Anti-FAP CAR-NK cells as a novel targeted therapy against cervical cancer and cancer-associated fibroblasts
The tumor microenvironment (TME) has a central role in many cancers, particularly by fostering an immunosuppressive milieu. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-based immunotherapy displays a promising strategy to re-direct immune cells toward specific antigens, thereby inducing targeted cytotoxicity. The fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is overexpressed in various cancer types and has shown promise in CAR-based therapies. However, its application in gynecological cancers remains unexplored. This study evaluates the efficacy of anti-FAP CAR-NK cells as a targeted immunotherapy for cervical cancer and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). FAP expression was quantified on cervical cancer cell lines, primary cervical cancer tissues, and cells isolated from these tissues. Alpharetroviral SIN vectors were used to transduce NK-92 cells and primary cord blood-derived NK cells with 3
