Several embodiments disclosed herein relate to the compositions comprising engineered Natural Killer (NK) cells that express an adhesion receptor, the adhesion receptor imparting to the NK cells an enhanced ability to target specific cells, such as cancerous cells or those affected by an infectious disease. Several embodiments relate to NK cells that target cells expressing tumor associated antigens, where the NK cells comprise membrane-bound receptors that adhere to tumor associated antigens and lead to cytotoxic and/or cytolytic effects when the NK cells bind a target cell. Uses of NK cell compositions to treat diseases are also provided for in several embodiments.
