CD8A and cancer: Since DC-mediated IL-12 and IL-18 secretion is critical in mediating T and NK cell cytotoxicity and Th1 polarization, including licensing cytotoxic CD8+ T cells in their antitumor activities (19, 20), we established here that NLRC4 expression in human cancer cells is sufficient to directly mediate the release of critical cytokines and immune mediators to drive DC maturation toward Th1 polarization in vitro.