Maturation of NK cells into cytotoxic effectors is perturbed in PBMCs from patients with B/T-ALL. Flow cytometry analysis of NK cells showing the percentages of CD94⁻, CD56^brightCD94⁺, CD56^dimCD94^High, and CD56^dimCD94^Low NK cells (A-B), KIR2DL1⁺ total NK cells and CD56^brightKIR2DL1⁺ and CD56^dimKIR2DL1⁺ NK cells (C-D), CD11b⁻CD27⁻, CD11b⁻CD27⁺, CD11b⁺CD27⁺, and CD11b⁺CD27⁻ NK cells (E-F) in PBMCs from healthy donors (n = 9) and B/T-ALL patients (n = 9). (G-H) Flow cytometry analysis of NK cells showing the percentages of DNAM-1⁺ total NK cells and CD56^brightDNAM-1⁺, CD56^dimDNAM-1⁺, and CD56^dimDNAM-1⁻NK cells in PBMCs from healthy donors (n = 6) and B/T-ALL patients (n = 6). Graphs show median ± interquartile range. Gates for each marker were set using fluorescence − 1 (FMO) controls. Exact P values were calculated using the Mann-Whitney U test. ns, nonsignificant.