Notably, blocking of NKG2D attenuated γδ T-mediated cytolysis of DAC-pretreated lung cancer cells (Supplementary Fig. 8b), which suggested that the NKG2D receptor-ligand axis is also important for immune recognition by γδ T cells and the induction of ICAM-1 by DNMTi further strengthens the cell–cell interaction required for successful tumor lysis. Here, ICAM1 is linked to lung cancer.