title: The role of platelets in the tumor microenvironment: From solid tumors to leukemia.
abstract: Platelets are increasingly being recognized for promoting tumor growth and metastasis. Many cells derived from solid tumors have the ability to aggregate platelets, and this ability correlates with their metastatic potential. Over the past half century, our understanding of tumor cell-induced platelet aggregation (TCIPA) has grown beyond the simple concept that tumor cell-containing microthrombi mechanically embolize the microvasculature. Tumor cell-activated platelets secrete a multitude of factors that reciprocally act on tumor cells, as well as other cells within the tumor microenvironment; thus, affecting both parenychma and tumor-associated stroma. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of tumor cell-platelet interactions and their influence on the tumor microenvironment, including how these interactions impact neoplastic epithelial cells, endothelial cells, pericytes, fibroblasts, immune cells, and early metastatic niches. In addition, we review the current knowledge of platelet-cancer cell interactions within hematological malignancies and speculate on how platelets may influence the leukemic microenvironment. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Tumor Microenvironment Regulation of Cancer Cell Survival, Metastasis, Inflammation, and Immune Surveillance edited by Peter Ruvolo and Gregg L. Semenza.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: MengJie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: jurasz@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jurasz
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000473:pathology*; D002450:Cell Communication; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000473:pathology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
keywords: Leukemia; Microenvironment; Platelet secretion; Platelets; Solid tumors