While NKG2D up-modulation upon drug treatment was strictly dependent on the presence of tumor cells in mice, such cells do not appear to play a direct role in enhancing NKG2D expression, since no direct modulation of NKG2D on NK cells was observed by co-culturing PBMCs with tumor cells according to treatment with docetaxel. The gene discussed is KLRK1; the disease is neoplasm.