Thomas Spies, PhD
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Survival Signaling by the NKG2D Immunoreceptor in Ovarian Cancer
Cancers adopt diverse strategies for immune evasion to safeguard their survival. The activating immunoreceptor NKG2D and its tumor-associated ligand MICA are key components in the human lymphocyte defense against cancer. Dr. Spies has discovered that solid tumors including ovarian cancer paradoxically express NKG2D. Preliminary data support the idea that NKG2D complements the presence of MICA in a stimulatory loop that may promote tumor survival. Validation of this model may advance knowledge of ovarian cancer development and malignancy and thus impact approaches to therapy.