More importantly, we show that Axl inhibition leads to adaptive immune resistance evidenced by PD-L1 and its receptor PD-1 expression on tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating T cells respectively and thus provides a strong rationale for combination treatment with PD-1 blockade that was supported by a potent synergistic antitumor efficacy derived from combination treatment of Axl inhibition and anti-PD-1 mAb. The gene discussed is AXL; the disease is neoplasm.