Yim J, Hope C, Huelse JM, Graham DK. Prospects of current AXL-targeting therapies in early phase cancer trials.
Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2025:1-33. [PMID:
40413629 DOI:
10.1080/13543784.2025.2511178]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2025] [Revised: 04/22/2025] [Accepted: 05/19/2025] [Indexed: 05/27/2025]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
AXL, a member of the TAM (TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK) family of receptor tyrosine kinases, controls pro-tumorigenic signaling cascades and cancer-immunological functions, and promotes drug resistance. Due to AXL's multifaceted role and therapeutic activity in preclinical studies, a variety of AXL inhibitors are being developed and tested in clinical trials for cancer treatment. Some clinical studies are showing promising results for AXL inhibitors as monotherapy and in combination with standard of care therapeutics. Currently, no selective AXL-targeting therapy has reached FDA-approval, but several compounds have entered phase II and III studies.
AREA COVERED
We elaborate on the role of AXL in cancer progression and suppressing anti-cancer immunity at both the molecular level and immune cell interaction level. Additionally, we review pre-clinical and clinical data of AXL-targeting agents.
EXPERT OPINION
Preclinical and several early clinical trials demonstrated the safety of AXL-targeting monotherapies with some evidence of efficacy. Additionally, multiple novel combination regimens including AXL-targeting agents to overcome resistance mechanisms are being actively examined with some promising results. However, patient selection and companion biomarkers may be critical for the success of AXL-targeting therapies.
Collapse