Targeting Axl favors an antitumorigenic microenvironment that enhances immunotherapy responses by decreasing Hif-1α levels.

ABSTRACT: Hypoxia is an important phenomenon in solid tumors that contributes to metastasis, tumor microenvironment (TME) deregulation, and resistance to therapies. The receptor tyrosine kinase AXL is an HIF target, but its roles during hypoxic stress leading to the TME deregulation are not well defined. We report here that the mammary gland-specific deletion of Axl in a HER2⁺ mouse model of breast cancer leads to a normalization of the blood vessels, a proinflammatory TME, and a reduction of lung metastases by dampening the hypoxic response in tumor cells. During hypoxia, interfering with AXL reduces HIF-1α levels altering the hypoxic response leading to a reduction of hypoxia-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, and production of key cytokines for macroph

SUBMITTER: Goyette MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8307381 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature