Advance in CAR-NK Therapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has achieved breakthrough success in B-cell hematologic malignancies. However, in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), its efficacy is constrained by the lack of highly specific tumor antigens and by shared target expression on normal hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), increasing the risk of on-target myelosuppression and cytokine release syndrome (CRS). By contrast, CAR-NK cell therapy, an emerging strategy that leverages the innate antitumor activity of natural killer cells, is associated with lower rates of CRS and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Early clinical studies also indicate a favorable safety profile with preliminary antileukemic activity. This review summarizes recent advances in CAR-NK therapy for AML and discusses future directions and potential avenues for clinical translation.