A team of researchers found that macrophages expressing the TAM receptors Axl and Mertk phagocytose apoptotic neutrophils by efferocytosis and reduce the secretion of pro‐inflammatory factors, thereby suppressing long‐term chronic pro‐tumor inflammation and reducing the incidence of inflammation‐associated colorectal cancer (Bosurgi et al. 2013). Here, MERTK is linked to neoplasm.