title: Coagulation and metastasis: what does the experimental literature tell us?
abstract: Inhibition of coagulation greatly limits cancer metastasis in many experimental models. Cancer cells trigger coagulation, through expression of tissue factor or P-selectin ligands that have correlated with worse prognosis in human clinical studies. Cancer cells also affect coagulation through expression of thrombin and release of microparticles that augment coagulation. In the cancer-bearing host, coagulation facilitates tumour progression through release of platelet granule contents, inhibition of Natural Killer cells and recruitment of macrophages. We are revisiting this literature in the light of recent studies in which treatment of clinical cohorts with anticoagulant drugs led to diminished metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology and Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gil-Bernabé
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lucotti
authors.forename: Ruth J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Muschel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000502:physiology; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000378:metabolism; D006629:Hirudins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000556:secondary; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000097:blood* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000502:physiology; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000502:physiology; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D013917:Thrombin / Q000378:metabolism; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006629:Hirudins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D019007:P-Selectin; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D013925:Thromboplastin; D009439:Neuraminidase; D013917:Thrombin; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C030910:cancer procoagulant
keywords: aspirin; coagulation; macrophages; metastasis; tissue factor