However, the negative impact of increased TGF-β1 levels detected in these HNSCC patients could be inhibited by neutralization antibodies against this immunosuppressive factor, indicating that TGF-β1 seemed to potentiate the sMICA-induced decrease of patient NK cell cytotoxicity and diminished NKG2D expression. The gene discussed is KLRK1; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.