To investigate whether docetaxel upregulates the production of the NK cell stimulatory ligands MICA, MICB, ULBP1 and ULBP2 of the NKG2D receptor, HER2-overexpressing human breast carcinoma cell lines BT474 and MDAMB361 were treated in vitro for different times with 100 nM docetaxel and analyzed by flow cytometry. The gene discussed is MICA; the disease is breast carcinoma.