What are LAK cells used for in clinical settings?

LAK (Lymphokine-Activated Killer) cells are a type of immune cell that are specifically engineered for use in cancer therapy. These cells are derived from peripheral blood lymphocytes and are activated in vitro using lymphokines, which are signaling molecules produced by immune cells. The activation enhances their ability to target and destroy tumor cells.

In clinical settings, LAK cells are utilized in adoptive cell transfer therapies, where these enhanced immune cells are infused back into patients to help eradicate cancerous cells. This approach capitalizes on the body's natural immune response but strengthens it to provide a more effective attack against malignancies.

While other choices relate to immune system functions or therapies, their focus does not align with the primary application of LAK cells. For instance, vaccine development typically involves different types of immune responses, autoimmune treatments often require modulation of immune activity rather than activation, and infection control is more aligned with other immune cell types like macrophages or neutrophils rather than LAK cells specifically.