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Therapeutic Landscape of AXL Receptor Kinase in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Rumeysa Ozyurt1, Bulent Ozpolat1,2

  • 1Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas.

Molecular Cancer Therapeutics
|April 7, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Overexpression of AXL drives triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) recurrence and therapeutic resistance. Targeting AXL offers a promising strategy to improve patient survival and overcome treatment challenges in TNBC.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by poor survival rates due to early recurrence.
  • Acquired resistance to chemotherapy and targeted therapies is a major challenge in TNBC treatment.
  • Overexpression of the AXL receptor tyrosine kinase is a key driver of therapeutic resistance and cancer progression in TNBC.

Approach:

  • This review synthesizes current knowledge on AXL's function, regulation, and role in cancer.
  • It examines the mechanisms by which AXL contributes to drug resistance and metastasis.
  • The review discusses emerging therapeutic strategies targeting AXL in preclinical and clinical settings, with a focus on TNBC.

Key Points:

  • AXL overactivation promotes cancer hallmarks: proliferation, survival, migration, metastasis, and drug resistance.
  • AXL functions as a critical signaling hub, integrating multiple oncogenic pathways.
  • AXL overexpression is significantly correlated with poor patient survival and disease recurrence in TNBC.

Conclusions:

  • AXL is a clinically significant therapeutic target for overcoming resistance in TNBC.
  • While no FDA-approved AXL inhibitors exist, several small molecule inhibitors and antibodies are under clinical investigation.
  • Targeting AXL represents a promising avenue for improving treatment efficacy and patient outcomes in triple-negative breast cancer.

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