RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 A role for pre-mNK cells in tumor progression JF Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer JO J Immunother Cancer FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 16 DO 10.1186/s40425-016-0120-6 VO 4 IS 1 A1 Carolyn Rosinsky A1 Paul Andrew Antony YR 2016 UL http://jitc.bmj.com/content/4/1/16.abstract AB The innate and adaptive immune systems have evolved together to fight infection and cancerous tissues. The innate immune system emerges first with the adaptive immune system following, both ostensibly being bridged by dendritic cells (DC). Recently cells have emerged that possess characteristics of both innate and adaptive immune cell qualities, termed interferon-producing killer dendritic cells (IKDCs). These cells have an indistinct origin that is not well understood. They appear to have more NK cell attributes than DC but purportedly can regulate the immune system similar to immunoregulatory NK cells. Because of this, they have been renamed pre-mNK cells (pre-mature NK cells). We argue in this commentary that pre-mNK cells may contribute to cancer recurrence.Abbreviations:ACTAdoptive cell transferDAMPsDamage associated molecular patternsDCDendritic cellIDOIndoleamine-2,3-deoxygenaseILInterleukinIKDCInterferon killer dendritic cellINF-γInterferon γNK cellNatural killer cellPAMPsPathogen associated molecular patternsPD-1Programmed cell death protein 1PD-L1Programmed death ligand 1pDCPlasmacytoid Dendritic CellPre-mNK cellsPre-mature natural killer cellsTLRToll-like receptorsTregRegulatory T cellsTRP-1Tyrosinase related protein 1