Leukaemia (Acute Myeloid)

The aim of the ENKLA-M study is to collect samples from patients with acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) to study the evolution of blast phenotype (NK receptor ligands and adhesion molecules) and the biology of patients' NK cells). To do this, blood and bone marrow samples will be collected from patients at diagnosis in order to characterize: (I) the phenotype of ALL and AML blasts with respect to NK receptor ligands and adhesion molecules; (II) the phenotypic profile of NK cells, (III) to further characterize the NK cell repertoire dynamics over time (day 30, day 60, day 90, 6 months, and 1 year), focusing on NK cell populations identified in healthy individuals as particularly effective against leukemia, by defining their phenotypic and transcriptomic profiles; and (IV) the impact of azacitidine (AZA) and donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) on the biology of NK cells in transplanted patients. Clinical data and KIR/HLA genetic profiles will be used to analyze all NK phenotypic and functional data, with the aim of better defining: (i) the key molecular interactions between NK cells and leukemic cells; (ii) markers of NK cell anti-leukemic efficacy during hematopoietic reconstitution; and (iii) whether AZA/DLI treatment enhances the functional potential of NK cells via KIR-HLA interaction, thereby improving their effectiveness against residual disease.

A first-in-class adoptive immunotherapy we called ThINKK, for Therapeutic Inducers of Natural Killer (NK) cell Killing, have been designed for use after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), where the proper stimulation of graft-derived NK cells has been shown to prevent relapse. ThINKK immunotherapy builds on our earlier research on NK cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC) in cord blood and after HSCT. PDC are the sentinels of the immune system. Upon viral nucleic acids detection, PDC secrete a vast array of chemokines and cytokines that stimulate NK cells. PDC stimulation enhances NK cells killing of infected cells that express stress-induced molecules. Cancer cells also express stress-related molecules at their surface. However, NK cells do not receive PDC stimulation when fighting cancer. ThINKK therapy is designed to provide this necessary stimulation.