PDGFR alpha, CD140a (also called platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha, PDGFR-α) is a 170-kDa glycosylated cell-surface receptor tyrosine kinase encoded by the PDGFRA gene, featuring an extracellular ligand-binding region with five immunoglobulin-like domains, a single transmembrane segment and an intracellular split tyrosine-kinase domain; upon binding PDGF-AA, -AB or -BB it forms homo- or heterodimers, triggers downstream signalling cascades that drive proliferation, migration and differentiation of mesenchymal and glial cells, and is indispensable for embryogenesis of kidney, testis and other organs, wound healing and maintenance of hematologic tissues, while PDGFRA mutations or amplifications are linked to clonal hypereosinophilic neoplasms, gastrointestinal stromal tumours, gliomas and hepatocellular carcinoma, making CD140a a potential therapeutic target in these cancers .