Platelets and cancer angiogenesis nexus

Abstract

There has been remarkable insight into the importance of platelets in a wide range of pathophysiologic events, including inflammation and cancer progression. Thrombocytosis in cancer patients is a common finding. Tumor cells induce platelet activation and subsequent aggregation through direct and indirect mechanisms. Platelets are recognized to contribute to metastatic dissemination. There is plenty of evidence that components of the hemostatic system contribute to the process of angiogenesis. Furthermore, there are accumulated data on the substantial influence of blood platelets in the process of blood vessel formation during malignancy. Platelets appear to be the main physiologic transporters of proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors. Moreover, they influence the process of angiogenesis through platelet-derived microparticles, microRNA, lipids, and variety of surface receptors. Platelets contribute to early and late stages of angiogenesis. Available data support the overall stimulatory effect of platelets on tumor angiogenesis. It raises the possibility that interfering with platelet function may be an effective antineoplastic treatment strategy.

Multi‐omics analysis points to altered platelet functions in severe food‐associated respiratory allergy

“…The combined analysis of transcripts and metabolic alterations in allergic patients that have been stratified based on their severity sheds some light on the progression of this pathology. Interestingly, the role of platelets in inflammation and related pathologies, such as cancer and autoimmune diseases, has been already suggested . We describe new mechanisms, pointing to platelet dysfunction, reduced protein synthesis, and a switch to Warburg metabolism, that are associated with severe allergic inflammation.…”

Systemic Immune-inflammation Index Predicts Survival of Patients After Curative Resection for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

“…Thrombocytosis is a paraneoplastic syndrome, and previous studies have found a significant role of platelets during tumor development and progression (21). Indeed, there is increasing evidence that a high platelet count is associated with worse survival in patients with NSCLC (22).…”

Bidirectional Pathologic Effects of Thrombin

“…Inflammation increases the expression of VEGF receptors and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) [2]. VEGF and MMPs accelerate the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells, resulting in angiogenesis.…”

“…Additionally, excessive and expanded coagulation beyond physiologic control can lead to disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) with sepsis. An increasing number of reports indicate that the coagulation system dysfunction could be involved in many other diseases, including atherosclerosis, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and bronchial asthma [1][2][3]. In each of these diseases, deleterious activity of a major coagulation factor, thrombin, is thought to worsen the medical condition, independent of thromboembolism.…”

“…Furthermore, from the perspective of therapeutic development, potential future targets in the thrombin signaling pathway are discussed. Although other PARs are involved in thrombin signaling and other ligands activate PAR1, these are not discussed here; excellent reviews of these subjects are available elsewhere, however [2,9,10]. Among cells affected by thrombin, platelets are the most well-studied to date.…”