This is in contrast to the down-regulation of NK cell activating receptors and resulting inhibition of NK cell cytotoxic functions which is generally associated with exposure of NK cells to immunosuppressive cytokines (e.g., TGF-β) produced by tumors and suppressive immune cell populations (e.g., Tumor Associated Macrophages, TAMs) (16, 20, 30). Here, TGFB1 is linked to neoplasm.