anti-AXL ADC

Anti-AXL ADC refers to a class of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) designed to target the AXL receptor tyrosine kinase, a member of the TAM (Tyro3, AXL, Mer) family. AXL is frequently overexpressed in various malignancies, where it promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), tumor progression, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy and targeted therapies. These ADCs typically consist of a monoclonal antibody specific for the extracellular domain of AXL, conjugated to a potent cytotoxic payload, such as monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), via a linker. Upon binding to AXL on the tumor cell surface, the ADC is internalized via endocytosis, leading to the intracellular release of the payload and subsequent cell death. Research presented at AACR 2025 highlights the potential of anti-AXL ADCs in treating recalcitrant pulmonary high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas (hgNECs), including small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC), particularly in the context of relapsed or drug-resistant disease.

Other names

AXL-targeted ADCAXL-directed ADC