Platelets in the tumor microenvironment and their biological effects on cancer hallmarks

Lilan Chen; Chunyan Zhu; Fan Pan; Ying Chen; Lei Xiong; Yan Li; Xiaoyuan Chu; Guichun Huang

doi:10.3389/fonc.2023.1121401

Platelets in the tumor microenvironment and their biological effects on cancer hallmarks

Front Oncol. 2023 Mar 3:13:1121401. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1121401. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Lilan Chen¹, Chunyan Zhu¹, Fan Pan¹, Ying Chen², Lei Xiong³, Yan Li⁴, Xiaoyuan Chu¹, Guichun Huang¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
² Division of Immunology, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
³ Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
⁴ Department of Respiratory Medicine, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.

Abstract

The interplay between platelets and tumors has long been studied. It has been widely accepted that platelets could promote tumor metastasis. However, the precise interactions between platelets and tumor cells have not been thoroughly investigated. Although platelets may play complex roles in multiple steps of tumor development, most studies focus on the platelets in the circulation of tumor patients. Platelets in the primary tumor microenvironment, in addition to platelets in the circulation during tumor cell dissemination, have recently been studied. Their effects on tumor biology are gradually figured out. According to updated cancer hallmarks, we reviewed the biological effects of platelets on tumors, including regulating tumor proliferation and growth, promoting cancer invasion and metastasis, inducing vasculature, avoiding immune destruction, and mediating tumor metabolism and inflammation.

Keywords: cancer biology; platelets; tumor metastasis; tumor microenvironment; tumor-associated platelets.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

The work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 82273326) and the Jiangsu Provincial Youth Medical Key Talents Project (QNRC2016887).