The relative expression of MICA/B on the tumor cell surface and the shedding of sMICA/B will probably vary from tumor to tumor and be associated with the ability of each tumor to produce sMICA/B (either by the action of MMP or released in exosomes) and to sustain cell surface MICA/B expression in an immunocompetent host (to resist NK cell effector functions). This evidence concerns the gene MICA and neoplasm.