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Semin Thromb Hemost 2024; 50(03): 455-461
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1776005
Review Article

Platelet Contributions to the (Pre)metastatic Tumor Microenvironment

Harvey G. Roweth
1   Hematology Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
2   Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
› Author Affiliations Funding The research reported in this publication was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number K99CA283008.
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Abstract

Alongside their conventional roles in thrombosis and hemostasis, platelets have long been associated with nonhemostatic pathologies, including tumor cell metastasis. Numerous mechanistic studies have since demonstrated that the direct binding of platelets to intravascular tumor cells promotes key hallmarks of metastasis, including survival in circulation and tumor cell arrest at secondary sites. However, platelets also interact with nonmalignant cells that make up the stromal and immune compartments within both primary and metastatic tumors. This review will first provide a brief historical perspective on platelet contributions to metastatic disease before discussing the emerging roles that platelets play in creating microenvironments that likely support successful tumor cell metastasis.

Keywords

cancer - platelets - metastasis - pre-metastatic niche

Note

The content is solely the responsibility of the author and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.




Publication History

Article published online:
13 October 2023

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