Enhanced natural killer cell anti-tumor activity with nanoparticles mediated ferroptosis and potential therapeutic application in prostate cancer

Ferroptosis provides an opportunity to overcome the cancer cell therapeutic resistance and modulate the immune system. Here an interaction between ferroptosis of cancer cells and natural killer (NK) cells was investigated with a clinical grade iron oxide nanoparticle (ferumoxytol) for potential synergistic anti-cancer effect of ferroptosis and NK cell therapy in prostate cancer. When ferumoxytol mediated ferroptosis of cancer cells was combined with NK cells, the NK cells’ cytotoxic function was increased. Observed ferroptosis mediated NK cell activation was also confirmed with IFN-γ secretion and lytic degranulation. Upregulation of ULBPs, which is one of the ligands for NK cell activating receptor NKG2D, was observed in the co-treatment of ferumoxytol mediated ferroptosis and NK cells. Additionally, HMGB1 and PD-L1 expression of cancer cells were observed in the treatment of ferroptosis + NK cells. Finally, in vivo therapeutic efficacy of ferumoxytol mediated ferroptosis and NK cell therapy was observed with significant tumor volume regression in a prostate cancer mice model. These results suggest that the NK cells’ function can be enhanced with ferumoxytol mediated ferroptosis. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-022-01635-y.