The plasma membrane receptor natural killer group 2 member D (NKG2D) underpins a major mechanism whereby natural killer (NK) and T cells recognize malignant cells. We have recently demonstrated that the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, one of the first steps of metastatic dissemination, is under the control of an immunological checkpoint that relies on NKG2D-mediated immune responses.
Keywords: MICA/B; NK cells; NKG2D; ULBP; colorectal carcinoma; epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.