title: The prothrombotic activity of cancer cells in the circulation.
abstract: The hemostatic system is often subverted in patients with cancer, resulting in life-threatening venous thrombotic events. Despite the multifactorial and complex etiology of cancer-associated thrombosis, changes in the expression and activity of cancer-derived tissue factor (TF) - the principle initiator of the coagulation cascade - are considered key to malignant hypercoagulopathy and to the pathophysiology of thrombosis. However, many of the molecular and cellular mechanisms coupling the hemostatic degeneration to malignancy remain largely uncharacterized. In this review we discuss some of the tumor-intrinsic and tumor-extrinsic mechanisms that may contribute to the prothrombotic state of cancer, and we bring into focus the potential for circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in advancing our understanding of the field. We also summarize the current status of anti-coagulant therapy for the treatment of thrombosis in patients with cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Divison of Hematology & Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA. Electronic address: mitrugno@ohsu.edu.
authors.forename: Annachiara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mitrugno
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA. Electronic address: tormoeng@ohsu.edu.
authors.forename: Garth W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Tormoen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address: pkuhn@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Divison of Hematology & Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA. Electronic address: mccartyo@ohsu.edu.
authors.forename: Owen J T
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: McCarty
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015942:Factor VIIa / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005337:Fibrin / Q000378:metabolism; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011516:Prothrombin; D005337:Fibrin; D005340:Fibrinogen; C025337:Factor IIa; D013925:Thromboplastin; D015942:Factor VIIa
keywords: Cancer; Circulating tumor cells; Coagulation; Platelets; Thrombosis; Tissue factor