Analysis of minute amounts of clinical biospecimen for the AXL receptor expression using real-time PCR and Simple Western Size technology.

AXL, a tyrosine kinase receptor, is expressed in a variety of cancers and has been revealed as the most highly expressed gene in preclinical models with acquired resistance, and second most common alteration in EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) inhibitor-resistant tumors, behind the T790M mutation. It has become obvious that targeted therapy of patients has to be monitored by taking and analyzing biopsies on a regular basis. Therefore, laboratory methods have to be adapted.