Expansion of NK Cells

A method of obtaining expanded and activated natural killer (NK) cells with the phenotype CD3−CD56+ and NK-like T cells with the phenotype CD3+CD56+, said method comprising:

• i) providing a cell sample of peripheral blood from a tumour bearing subject;
• ii) isolating cells from said blood sample and re-suspend the cells in growth medium;
• iii) adding the isolated cells to a bioreactor at a concentration of about 0.5×106 to about 2×106/ml growth medium;
• iv) incubating and expanding the cells of step ii) with agitation and heating until at least 35% of the expanded cell population comprises activated NK cells and NK-like T cells;
• and
• v) harvesting said expanded cell suspension of therapeutically active NK-cells from said bioreactor, wherein said cells exhibit an increased cytotoxicity compared to freshly isolated cells as determined by an in vitro cytotoxicity test.

A method for treatment of a patient suffering from cancer, said method comprising the steps;

• i) collecting a cell sample of peripheral blood from a tumour bearing subject;
• ii) isolating cells from said blood sample and re-suspend the cells in growth medium;
• iii) adding the isolated cells to a bioreactor at a concentration of about 0.5×106 to about 2×106/ml growth medium;
• iv) incubating and expanding the cells of step ii) with agitation and heating until at least 35% of the cell population comprises expanded and activated natural killer (NK) cells with the phenotype CD3−CD56+ and NK-like T cells with the phenotype CD3+CD56+;
• v) harvesting said expanded cell suspension of therapeutically active NK-cells from said bioreactor, wherein said cells exhibit an increased cytotoxicity as determined by an in vitro cytotoxicity test;
• and
• vi) giving said cell suspension to a patient in need thereof.