Cited by 1,224Lung Cancer Treatments and MutationsHER2/EGFR in Cancer ResearchCancer Genomics and Diagnostics

Activation of the AXL kinase causes resistance to EGFR-targeted therapy in lung cancer

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Zhang, Zhenfeng, Lee, Jae Cheol, Lin, Luping, Olivas, Victor, Au, Valerie, LaFramboise, Thomas, Abdel-Rahman, Mohamed, Wang, Xiaoqi +22 more·2012·Nature Genetics

Abstract

Human non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) with activating mutations in EGFR frequently respond to treatment with EGFR-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as erlotinib, but responses are not durable, as tumors acquire resistance. Secondary mutations in EGFR (such as T790M) or upregulation of the MET kinase are found in over 50% of resistant tumors. Here, we report increased activation of AXL and evidence for epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in multiple in vitro and in vivo EGFR-mutant lung cancer models with acquired resistance to erlotinib in the absence of the EGFR p.Thr790Met alteration or MET activation. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of AXL restored sensitivity to erlotinib in these tumor models. Increased expression of AXL and, in some cases, of its ligand GAS6 was found in EGFR-mutant lung cancers obtained from individuals with acquired resistance to TKIs. These data identify AXL as a promising therapeutic target whose inhibition could prevent or overcome acquired resistance to EGFR TKIs in individuals with EGFR-mutant lung cancer.

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  • Inhibition of the FGFR signaling pathway reduces ERK and mTOR activation, whereas AXL inhibition attenuates the activation of PI3K pathway.

    “Inhibition of the FGFR signaling pathway reduces ERK and mTOR activation, whereas AXL inhibition attenuates the activation of PI3K pathway [43, 136–139].”
  • High feedback activation of the FGFR/AXL signaling pathway was found in mesenchymal cells.

    “High feedback activation of the FGFR/AXL signaling pathway was found in mesenchymal cells.”
  • In the context of an EMT, AXL upregulation appears as a novel mechanism of acquired EGFR-TKI resistance in EGFR-mutant NSCLCs.

    “In the context of an EMT, AXL upregulation appears as a novel mechanism of acquired EGFR-TKI resistance in EGFR-mutant NSCLCs.”

    From Mechanisms of resistance to EGFR-targeted drugs: lung cancer (2016) · cites this paper as [40]

  • An EMT-associated transcriptional programme involving upregulation of vimentin may, in part, drive AXL overexpression in EGFR-mutant lung cancer cells with acquired EGFR-TKI resistance.

    “Therefore, an EMT-associated transcriptional programme involving upregulation of vimentin may, in part, drive AXL overexpression in EGFR-mutant lung cancer cells with acquired EGFR-TKI resistance.40”

    From Mechanisms of resistance to EGFR-targeted drugs: lung cancer (2016) · cites this paper as [40]

  • Pharmacological inhibition of AXL significantly decreased the proliferative and invasive abilities of cancer cells and increased their chemosensitivity through inhibition of AKT and MAPK pathways.

    “Pharmacological inhibition of AXL significantly decreased the proliferative and invasive abilities of cancer cells and increased their chemosenstivity through inhibition of AKT and MAPK pathways.”

    From Mechanisms of resistance to EGFR-targeted drugs: lung cancer (2016) · cites this paper as [40]

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Authors
Zhang, Z., Lee, J. C., Lin, L., Olivas, V., Au, V., LaFramboise, T., Abdel-Rahman, M., Wang, X., Levine, A. D., Rho, J. K., Choi, Y. J., Choi, C.-M., Kim, S.-W., Jang, S. J., Park, Y. S., Kim, W. S., Lee, D. H., Lee, J.-S., Miller, V. A., Arcila, M., Ladanyi, M., Moonsamy, P., Sawyers, C., Boggon, T. J., Ma, P. C., Costa, C., Taron, M., Rosell, R., Halmos, B., & Bivona, T. G.
Affiliations
  • Columbia University Irving Medical Center (US)
  • Asan Medical Center (KR)
  • University of California, San Francisco (US)
  • University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center (US)
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (US)
  • Yale University (US)
  • Cleveland Clinic (US)
  • Institut Català d'Oncologia (ES)
Corresponding author
Bivona, Trever G
Venue
Nature Genetics
Published
2012-07-01
Volume
44
Issue
8
Pages
852-860
ISSN
  • 1061-4036 (ISSN-L)
  • 1546-1718
OpenAlex
W1983774108
Cited by
1,224
References
29
Citations by year
2026: 37 · 2025: 61 · 2024: 49 · 2023: 85 · 2022: 73 · 2021: 86 · 2020: 101 · 2019: 89 · 2018: 103 · 2017: 112 · 2016: 116 · 2015: 131 · 2014: 82 · 2013: 82 · 2012: 14
FWCI
80.15
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Genetics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (T35HL007616)
  • National Cancer Institute (R01CA169338, DP2CA174497, P01CA129243, K08CA154787, K08 1K08CA154787)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Lung Cancer Treatments and Mutations
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › HER2/EGFR in Cancer Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics
Keywords
AXL kinase, erlotinib resistance, EGFR-mutant lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, Gas6, acquired drug resistance, therapeutic target, MET kinase
MeSH terms
Erlotinib Hydrochloride, Axl Receptor Tyrosine Kinase, Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6, Adult, Aged, Animals, Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung, Enzyme Activation, Female, Humans, Lung Neoplasms, Male, Middle Aged, Mutation, Proto-Oncogene Proteins, Quinazolines, Signal Transduction, Drug Resistance, Neoplasm, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met, Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases, Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays, Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins, Cell Line, Tumor, Protein Kinase Inhibitors, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, ErbB Receptors

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