NK cell–mediated cytotoxicity contributes to tumor control by a cytostatic drug combination

Abstract

Small molecules spark NK cell response Immunotherapy is a powerful treatment for certain cancers. Yet for those patients that do not respond, simultaneous strategies that mobilize the immune system and directly target malignant cells may be more effective. Ruscetti et al. report that combining two clinically approved cancer drugs promoted immune surveillance and killing of KRAS-mutant lung tumors in mice (see the Perspective by Cornen and Vivier). The two small molecules—a mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor and a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor—induced natural killer (NK) cell recruitment and elimination of senescent lung cancer cells, which did not occur when either agent was used alone. Science , this issue p. 1416 ; see also p. 1355