AXL and neoplasm: By RNA in situ hybridization the expression of OPN and IL-8 were found to co-localize with the rare population of cells with high AXL expression in normal tissue (Figures 4B,D) and, as well, OPN and IL-8 expressing cells were also found in the vicinity of the AXL positive tumor cells in the TNBC tissues (Figures 4C,E).