Abstract 4141: The induction of iNKT cells and CIK cells toward anti-tumor phenotypes

Natural killer T (NKT) cells and cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells contain features of both T cells and NK cells that occasionally brought confusion to several studies. These cells have been reported to possess either anti-tumor or immunosuppressive properties. NKT cells could be directly isolated from the peripheral blood, while CIK cells require ex vivo culture of peripheral blood lymphocytes for 2-3 weeks with IFN-γ, IL2 and anti-CD3. NKT type I cells carry invariant TCRαβ recognizing α-Galcer loaded CD1d on antigen-presenting cells. We investigated whether NKT type I cells, as well as CIK cells, could be induced toward Th1 phenotype that should elicit anti-tumor activity. The inducers included ODN, checkpoint inhibitors and CDKi. We observed the tipping toward Th1 phenotype in both cell types, especially on CIK cells. It is concluded that both NKT type I cells and CIK cells could be induced toward the anti-tumor Th1 phenotype. Citation Format: Adisak Wongkajornsilp, Khin Su Su Htwe, Nathawadee Sawatpiboon, Sunisa Duangsa-ard, Kanda Kasetsinsombat. The induction of iNKT cells and CIK cells toward anti-tumor phenotypes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4141.