Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42505378›Full record

ReviewCells2026

Next-Generation Multi-Engager Complexes Linking Natural Killer Cells to Tumor Cells and Targeting the Proteolytic Checkpoint ADAM17.

Kate J Dixon, Bruce Walcheck

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cells, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Kate J DixonDepartment of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-2548-7022
Bruce WalcheckDepartment of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-1933-3887

Funding

Expression of recombinant Fc receptors by engineered NK cells to enhance cancer cell killingR01CA203348 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · PI WALCHECK, BRUCE K, WU, JIANMING · 2016 to 2025
$4.4M
NCI NIH HHS R01 CA203348NIH HHS 1R01CA203348-26United States Department of Defense HT94252510503
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes capable of killing transformed cells without prior sensitization through direct cytolytic activity and, in an antigen-specific manner, by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Human NK cells mediate ADCC exclusively via the IgG Fc receptor CD16 (FcγRIIIA), triggering degranulation and cytokine production. Multi-engager complexes, such as BiKEs, TriKEs, TetraKEs, ANKETs, and ICEs, have been developed to link CD16 to tumor antigens. However, CD16 expression can be rapidly downregulated upon NK cell activation by the proteolytic checkpoint, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase-17 (ADAM17). ADAM17 induction in NK cells occurs in response to various stimuli, including the potent activating receptor CD16 and cytokine signaling. CD16 downregulation is further exacerbated within the tumor microenvironment, significantly diminishing ADCC potency by tumor-infiltrating NK cells. Moreover, ADAM17 expression and function are upregulated in various solid tumors, leading to the release of NK cell ligands and tumor-promoting factors. Consequently, developing strategies to inhibit ADAM17 to enhance NK cell function and suppress tumor cell growth is paramount to multi-engager efficacy. This review provides an overview of NK cell biology and the role of ADAM17 in regulating NK cell function and tumor cell growth. We examine the current landscape of NK cell multi-engager complexes in clinical development and discuss emerging strategies for incorporating an ADAM17-blocking component to optimize therapeutic outcomes.

Indexed as

ADAM17 ProteinKiller Cells, NaturalNeoplasmsAnimalsAntibody-Dependent Cell CytotoxicityHumansProteolysisReceptors, IgGADAM17 ProteinADAM17 protein, humanReceptors, IgGADAM17ADCCcancerengager complexesimmunosuppressionimmunotherapyNK cells

Identifiers

PMID42505378
PMCPMC13406962

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.