AXL编码受体酪氨酸激酶，通过结合生长因子GAS6将信号从细胞外基质转导到细胞质中，进而调节许多生理过程，包括细胞存活、细胞增殖、迁移和分化。这种旁路分泌信号通路通过激活MAPK/ERK和PI3K/Akt信号通路来调节不同的细胞功能。此外，AXL已被证明是对上皮间质转化必不可少的，从而导致乳腺癌转移。AXL在许多人类癌症中过表达，包括肺癌、乳腺癌和胰腺癌；AXL是一种与慢性髓性白血病相关的癌基因。

AXL is a receptor tyrosine kinase whose primary ligand is the vitamin K-dependent growth factor GAS6 (growth arrest-specific protein 6). Activation of AXL via GAS6 requires an additional interaction with phosphatidylserine, a phospholipid that is only accessible to apoptotic cells. AXL activates the JAK/STAT, MAPK/ERK, and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways leading to proliferation, survival, and chemoresistance in AXL-expressing cells. Additionally, AXL has been shown to be essential for the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and can mediate metastasis in cancer. While somatic mutations in AXL are rare, AXL is overexpressed in many human cancers including lung, breast, pancreatic and hematopoietic cancers. 

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