AXL in cancer: a modulator of drug resistance and therapeutic target

Abstract AXL is a member of the TAM (TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK) receptor tyrosine kinases family (RTKs), and its abnormal expression has been linked to clinicopathological features and poor prognosis of cancer patients. There is mounting evidence supporting AXL's role in the occurrence and progress...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yaoxiang Tang, Hongjing Zang, Qiuyuan Wen, Songqing Fan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-06-01
Series:Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13046-023-02726-w
Description
Summary:Abstract AXL is a member of the TAM (TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK) receptor tyrosine kinases family (RTKs), and its abnormal expression has been linked to clinicopathological features and poor prognosis of cancer patients. There is mounting evidence supporting AXL's role in the occurrence and progression of cancer, as well as drug resistance and treatment tolerance. Recent studies revealed that reducing AXL expression can weaken cancer cells' drug resistance, indicating that AXL may be a promising target for anti-cancer drug treatment. This review aims to summarize the AXL's structure, the mechanisms regulating and activating it, and its expression pattern, especially in drug-resistant cancers. Additionally, we will discuss the diverse functions of AXL in mediating cancer drug resistance and the potential of AXL inhibitors in cancer treatment.
ISSN:1756-9966