In these lines, MDK/ALK signaling is especially involved in neoplastic diseases (18, 58, 62, 63), as it initiates, for example, an autocrine growth and survival signal via the suppression of caspases (58), as well as the enhancement of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) (62), an anti-apoptotic protein and oncogene. The gene discussed is MDK; the disease is neoplasm.