Nkarta, Inc. announced the presentation of two preclinical data abstracts focused on its natural killer cell pipeline and proprietary manufacturing technology at the 2023 American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting. In this study, ADAM17 KO CAR NK cells demonstrate improved ADCC and ADAM17 KO can enhance in vivo anti-tumor activity of CISH/CBLB KO CD70 CAR NK cells in relevant tumor models. ADAM17 KO NK cells maintain dramatically higher surface expression of CD16a and CD62L than control NK cells.

ADAM17 KO CD19 CAR NK cells demonstrate higher cytotoxicity compared to control NK cells against Raji tumor cells in the presence of rituximab (anti-CD20). Similarly, ADAM17 KO CD70 CAR NK cells also possess enhanced cytotoxicity against 786-O tumor cells in the presence of the anti-EGFR antibody, cetuximab. Furthermore, ADAM17/CISH/CBLB triple KO CD70 CAR NK cells have improved antitumor efficacy in vivo in an HL60 AML xenograft model.

These data support the further exploration of ADAM17 KO CAR NK cells for clinical application and to improve the efficacy of therapeutic antibodies in combination with the adoptive transfer of engineered NK cells.