MERTK is primarily expressed in cells of the hematopoietic lineage, including monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, NK cells, and platelets, whereas AXL expression is mainly confined to epithelial and endothelial tissue and is linked to EMT.99,189 Consequently, MERTK is more closely associated with the tumor microenvironment, while AXL is linked to both tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment. This evidence concerns the gene AXL and neoplasm.