Our study demonstrated that the dual MET/AXL‐targeting compound LY2801653 has prominent antitumor activity at low doses for the treatment of high MET and AXL expression gastric cancer cells, LY2801653 inhibited proliferation, blocked phosphorylation of downstream AKT, ERK, and STAT3 proteins, and induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in high MET and AXL‐expressing MKN45 gastric cancer cells in vitro at nanomolar concentrations. Here, AXL is linked to gastric cancer.