Unfavorable gene variants as well as epigenetic changes including AXL-upregulation are both proposed to act via conserved molecular programs such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) (10, 19), wherein cancer cells gain stem-cell characteristics with migratory and immune-evasive properties (20) that thwart T-cell cytotoxicity and ICI treatment. The gene discussed is AXL; the disease is cancer.