The present invention shows that human Vδ1+ NCR+ T cells can be differentiated and expanded from total γδ peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs), upon regular in vitro or ex vivo stimulation with γδTCR agonists and γc-family cytokines. This subset surprisingly expresses NKp30, NKp44 and NKp46, and high levels of Granzyme B that associate with highly enhanced cytotoxicity against lymphoid leukemias.