KLRK1 and neoplasm: Nevertheless, tumor-infiltrating NK cells (TINKs) are also affected by the TME and display: (1) altered polarization and phenotype, (2) increased expression of angiogenic factors such as VEGF, (3) reduced IFN-γ, (4) malfunction of degranulation and cytotoxic ability, (5) down-modulated CD16, NKG2D, and DNAM-1 (40, 41).