However, more studies will be needed to further elucidate Natural-killer Group 2, member D (NKG2D) ligands-dependent immunomodulatory roles of ASCs in the tumor progression.
In a form of autoimmune attack, NKG2D promotes tissue damage, mostly in the inflamed tissue adjacent to the tumor, facilitating tumor progression while being ineffective at rejecting transformed cells in the tumor bed.
The restored expression of NKG2D ligands was associated with tumor cell death and delay of tumor progression <i>in vivo</i> Induction of tumor-specific NKG2D ligands required the engagement of CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells and was regulated by the histone acetyltransferases GCN5 and PCAF.
This relationship is supported by significant correlations between percentages of cancer cells that are positive for surface NKG2D and criteria of tumor progression.
Specific MICA-TM alleles seem to influence tumor progression and midterm survival of patients with colorectal cancer, indicating an important role of host innate immune predisposition involving NKG2D mediated antitumor response.