Fig. 5
Allogeneic activated-NK cells from healthy donors are effective in eradicating cancer stem-like cells in bladder cancer mouse models. a Serial bioluminescent images of a representative subcutaneous tumor-bearing mouse after intratumoral injection of activated-NK cells. b Anti-tumoral effects of activated-NK cells administered intravesically in mice bearing an orthotopic bladder cancer. All animals were treated twice a week with 5 × 106 NK cells for 2 weeks and were monitored each 3 days after treatment. The tumor size was evaluated by quantification of the bioluminescent signal (photons/sec/cm2/sr) in a region of interest drawn around the tumor. The graphs represent tumor progression of untreated and treated animals normalized to the bioluminescent signal at the beginning of the treatment (n = 5, per group). c Immunohistochemical staining for CD56, ALDH2 and SOX2 in serial sections of an orthotopic untreated tumor (upper row) and in a residual treated tumor after the fourth intravesical administration of activated-NK cells (lower row). Original magnification: ×400