SHOX2 and cancer: In the current study, the NKCAS was established with 12 NK cell signature genes including CXCR4, RDH8, MAGEA11, CYP19A1, SHOX2, GRB14, SLC35E4, NEK5, AKAP5, MSI2, KYNU, and PLCL1. Some of these genes had previously been reported to play an important role in cancer.