Assessment of anti-metastatic effects of anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents using animal models of experimental lung metastasis.
It is well established that the blood coagulation system is activated in cancer. In addition, there is considerable evidence to suggest that clotting activation plays an important role in the biology of malignant tumors, including the process of blood-borne metastasis. For many years our laboratory has used experimental models of lung metastasis to study the events that follow the introduction of procoagulant-bearing tumor cells into circulating blood. This chapter focuses on the basic methods involved in assessing the anti-metastatic effects of anticoagulants and anti-platelet agents using rodent models of experimental metastasis. In addition, it summarizes our experience with these models, which collectively suggests that intravascular coagulation and platelet activation are a necessary prelude to lung tumor formation and that interruption of coagulation pathways or platelet aggregation may be an effective anti-metastatic strategy.
Amirkhosravi
Ali
A
Florida Hospital Center for Thrombosis Research, Orlando, FL, USA.
Mousa
Shaker A
SA
Amaya
Mildred
M
Meyer
Todd
T
Davila
Monica
M
Robson
Theresa
T
Francis
John L
JL
D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017984:Enoxaparin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014859:Warfarin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000925:Anticoagulants; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017984:Enoxaparin; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014859:Warfarin; D013925:Thromboplastin