title: Interaction between circulating cancer cells and platelets: clinical implication.
abstract: Metastasis is the main cause of cancer-associated mortality. During this complicated process, some cancer cells, also called circulating tumor cells (CTCs), detach from primary sites, enter bloodstream and extravasate at metastatic site. Thrombocytosis is frequently observed in patients with metastatic cancers suggesting the important role of platelets in metastasis. Therefore this review focuses on how platelets facilitate the generation of CTCs, protect them from various host attacks, such as immune assaults, apoptosis and shear stress, and regulate CTCs intravasation/extravasation. Platelet-derived cytokines and receptors are involved in this cascade. Identification the mechanisms underlie platelet-CTCs interactions could lead to the development of new platelet-targeted therapeutic strategy to reduce metastasis.
authors.affiliation: 1 Molecular Medicine and Genetics Center, 2 Department of Pathology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, China ; 3 Renmin Institute of Forensic Medicine, Nanchang 330000, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Liang
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.affiliation: 1 Molecular Medicine and Genetics Center, 2 Department of Pathology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, China ; 3 Renmin Institute of Forensic Medicine, Nanchang 330000, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: 1 Molecular Medicine and Genetics Center, 2 Department of Pathology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, China ; 3 Renmin Institute of Forensic Medicine, Nanchang 330000, China.
authors.forename: Shu-Qi
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: 1 Molecular Medicine and Genetics Center, 2 Department of Pathology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, China ; 3 Renmin Institute of Forensic Medicine, Nanchang 330000, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: 1 Molecular Medicine and Genetics Center, 2 Department of Pathology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, China ; 3 Renmin Institute of Forensic Medicine, Nanchang 330000, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: 1 Molecular Medicine and Genetics Center, 2 Department of Pathology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, China ; 3 Renmin Institute of Forensic Medicine, Nanchang 330000, China.
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deng
keywords: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs); epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT); immune surveillance; metastasis; platelet