Additionally, Axl knockdown in transfected NSCLC and thyroid cancer cells inhibits tumour growth in nude mice [34, 42]; knockdown of Mer increases apoptosis in AML cell lines and reduces colony formation in NSCLC as well as the growth of subcutaneous NSCLC xenografts in nude mice [22, 40]. The gene discussed is AXL; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.