Emerging roles of platelets in cancer biology and their potential as therapeutic targets

Abstract

The main role of platelets is to control bleeding and repair vascular damage via thrombosis. They have also been implicated to promote tumor metastasis through platelet-tumor cell interactions. Platelet-tumor cell interactions promote tumor cell survival and dissemination in blood circulation. Tumor cells are known to induce platelet activation and alter platelet RNA profiles. Liquid biopsies based on tumor-educated platelet biomarkers can detect tumors and correlate with prognosis, personalized therapy, treatment monitoring, and recurrence prediction. Platelet-based strategies for cancer prevention and tumor-targeted therapy include developing drugs that target platelet receptors, interfere with the release of platelet particles, inhibit platelet-specific enzymes, and utilize platelet-derived “nano-platelets” as a targeted drug delivery platform for tumor therapy. This review elaborates on platelet-tumor cell interactions and the molecular mechanisms and discusses future research directions for platelet-based liquid biopsy techniques and platelet-targeted anti-tumor strategies.

Relation of Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) with Cancer: A Systematic Review with a Focus on Disease Outcome on Twelve Types of Cancer

“…Platelets have an important metabolic role in cancer pathogenesis through their angiogenic, metastatic, and proteolytic activities in the context of inflammation [ 4 , 10 ]. Activated platelets facilitate cancer progression and tumor growth by promoting angiogenesis and tumor cell generation at distant sites through the secretion of angiogenic growth factors, such as the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) [ 4 , 10 , 107 ]. Indeed, the platelet content of VEGF is significantly increased in cancer patients [ 108 ].…”

“…To develop appropriate treatment strategies against cancer, research into easily detectable and accessible biomarkers is required [ 2 ]. Platelet-based markers are potential candidates for cancer diagnosis and monitoring, given the emerging role of platelets in cancer biology [ 3 , 4 ].…”

“…Tumor cells secrete cytokines that contribute to a prothrombotic microenvironment, which includes platelet activation [ 4 ]. By secreting proinflammatory and growth factors, platelets play an important role in cancer progression and metastasis, since inflammation is a critical component of tumor progression [ 4 ].…”

“…Tumor cells secrete cytokines that contribute to a prothrombotic microenvironment, which includes platelet activation [ 4 ]. By secreting proinflammatory and growth factors, platelets play an important role in cancer progression and metastasis, since inflammation is a critical component of tumor progression [ 4 ]. Complicated interactions between platelets and cancer cells lead to tumor growth, neoangiogenesis, tumor cell dissemination, the release of adhesion molecules, and growth factors, all of which provide basic ingredients for tumor growth and metastasis [ 4 ].…”

Circulating Tumour Cells, Cell Free DNA and Tumour-Educated Platelets as Reliable Prognostic and Management Biomarkers for the Liquid Biopsy in Multiple Myeloma

“…Neoplastic cells can relocate molecules such as RNA to platelets via direct connection and delivery of exosomes, which is able to modify the platelet precursor RNA, and under the effect of neoplastic cells and neoplastic milieu platelet immature mRNA is transformed into mature RNA able to form functional proteins, generating TEPs ( Figure 2 ). The identification of TEPs in the peripheral blood of neoplastic subjects is awaiting employment in the tumour diagnosis [ 134 , 135 , 136 ] ( Table 3 ).…”