NK-cell fratricide: Dynamic crosstalk between NK and cancer cells

The intercellular transfer of plasma membrane patches, also known as trogocytosis, has a strong impact on the function and fate of immune cells. We have recently shown that natural killer (NK) cells undergo fratricide following the trogocytosis-mediated acquisition of tumor-derived NKG2D ligands. Malignant cells may therefore employ trogocytosis to escape NKG2D-mediated immune responses.