First, ATM is activated by RSV in leukemia cells and different NKG2D-Ligands (NKG2D-Ls) are up-regulated as well at the cell surface; Second, ATM knockdown through shRNAs blocked the RSV-mediated up-regulation of surface NKG2D-Ls; Third, the NK-mediated cell death of leukemia cells is enhanced by pre-treatment with RSV and this effect is proportional to the levels of NKG2D-Ls induced by RSV in different leukemia cell lines [46]; Therefore, the NKG2D-triggered cell death may be a therapeutic mechanism elicited by the treatment with RSV on target cells also in vivo. The gene discussed is ATM; the disease is leukemia.