Abstract: This invention relates to a natural killer cell line termed NK-92. The invention provides a vector for transfecting a mammalian cell which includes a nucleic acid sequence encoding a cytokine that promotes the growth of NK-92. Additionally, the invention provides an NK-92 cell, or an NK-92 cell modified by transfection with a vector conferring advantageous properties, which is unable to proliferate and which preserves effective cytotoxic activity. The invention further provides a modified NK-92 cell that is transfected with a vector encoding a cytokine that promotes the growth of NK-92 cells. The cell secretes the cytokine upon being cultured under conditions that promote cytokine secretion, and furthermore secretes the cytokine in vivo upon being introduced into a mammal. In a significant embodiment, the cytokine is interleukin 2.

Abstract: This invention relates to a natural killer cell line termed NK-92 and to NK-92 cell lines that have been modified by transfection with a vector to confer advantageous properties. The invention provides a modified NK-92 cell line that is transfected with a vector encoding a cytokine that promotes the growth of NK-92 cells. In a significant embodiment, the cytokine is interleukin 2. The invention additionally provides a modified NK-92 cell line that is transfected with a vector that expresses a thymidine kinase gene. The invention further provides a modified NK-92 cell line that is transfected with a vector that expresses a ?2 micrglobulin.