The present invention concerns methods of treating a disease such as leukemia in a subject by administering natural killer (NK) cells. In particular aspects, HLA-C1-licensed KIR2DL2/3 and KIR2DS2 NK cells are administered to a subject with an HLA-C genotype either homozygous or heterozygous for the C1 allele, or HLA-C2 licensed cells are administered to a subject with an HLA-C genotype homozygous for the C2 allele. In further aspects, the NK cells are genetically modified to express a chimeric antigen receptor and interleukin 15.
