Natural Killer Cells in Treating Chronic Illness
Over the last 25–30 years, scientists have been studying umbilical cord blood and its many products, including different cell lines. One of the most promising are Natural Killer (NK) cells.
All cells have a lifespan. They divide a certain number of times and then shut down—a process known as apoptosis, or programmed cell death. Problems occur when this natural process fails. Instead of dying, cells continue dividing, but the new cells are poorly formed, dysfunctional, and release toxic substances that trigger widespread inflammation. This process is called cellular senescence.
Senescence and Human Health
Senescence is linked to many chronic diseases and age-related conditions. According to Strehler’s mortality model, there are three major causes of death:
Immature mortality – early death from disease, accidents, or other causes.
Residual mortality – premature adult death due to accidents, infections, or suicide.
Senescent mortality – deaths tied to chronic diseases and aging conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and genetic disorders.
There is growing evidence that senescence also contributes to autoimmune diseases. It has been associated with autism, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. For example, in Parkinson’s, cells in the substantia nigra stop producing dopamine and instead produce inflammatory cells. In Alzheimer’s, senescence in the hippocampus prevents repair and regeneration of neurons. Interestingly, studies suggest that the problem may not be amyloid or tau protein deposits—as once thought—but the persistence of senescent cells. In fact, when senescent cells in the brain were targeted, function improved even though amyloid and tau deposits remained.
Natural Killer Cells and Cancer
Research at UCLA and other institutions has explored NK cells as a treatment for cancer recurrence. For example, ovarian cancer has a recurrence rate of 60–80%, largely due to senescent cells. NK cells, however, are anti-senescent and directly attack abnormal cells. Most cancer cells lack defenses against NK cells, making them particularly vulnerable. Unlike chemotherapy, NK cells are naturally produced by the body and therefore do not carry the toxic side effects—such as neuropathy, cardiac damage, or kidney failure—that standard treatments often cause.
At MD Anderson Cancer Center, 37 patients with stage 3 or 4 cancers—including ovarian, pancreatic, lymphoma, breast, and colon cancers—were treated with NK cells after being told there was little to no hope. Remarkably, 94% of these patients were still alive after treatment, and the three-year survival rate reached 70%, an outcome unmatched by most current therapies.
Another study followed 10 patients with advanced cancers (including breast, colon, liver, pancreatic, ovarian, myeloma). After three years, all were still alive except for one liver cancer patient. These results have encouraged more cancer institutes to explore NK cell therapy.
Beyond Cancer: Potential for Other Diseases
The potential of NK cells may extend far beyond oncology. Researchers are beginning to investigate whether NK cells can help with autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, colitis, and Crohn’s disease. Even short treatments could prove beneficial.
There are also promising results in pulmonary fibrosis, heart failure, and ALS, conditions with few effective treatment options.
On a personal note, I tried NK cells for my arthritic finger and thumb. Within a week, the pain was almost completely gone, and the joint deformity improved. Another patient with severe knee degeneration reported complete relief of knee pain in just one week.
In addition to NK cell therapy, there are also natural compounds being studied for their ability to block senescence. Together, these approaches represent an exciting frontier in the biochemistry of disease treatment—offering powerful results without the debilitating side effects of many conventional therapies.
John Young, M.D.
727-545-4600 YoungFoundationalHealth.com
