AUTHOR=Yu Liuting , Guo Yao , Chang Zhiguang , Zhang Dengyang , Zhang Shiqiang , Pei Hanzhong , Pang Jun , Zhao Zhizhuang Joe , Chen Yun TITLE=Bidirectional Interaction Between Cancer Cells and Platelets Provides Potential Strategies for Cancer Therapies JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology VOLUME=11 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.764119 DOI=10.3389/fonc.2021.764119 ISSN=2234-943X ABSTRACT=

Platelets are essential components in the tumor microenvironment. For decades, clinical data have demonstrated that cancer patients have a high risk of thrombosis that is associated with adverse prognosis and decreased survival, indicating the involvement of platelets in cancer progression. Increasing evidence confirms that cancer cells are able to induce production and activation of platelets. Once activated, platelets serve as allies of cancer cells in tumor growth and metastasis. They can protect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) against the immune system and detachment-induced apoptosis while facilitating angiogenesis and tumor cell adhesion and invasion. Therefore, antiplatelet agents and platelet-based therapies should be developed for cancer treatment. Here, we discuss the mechanisms underlying the bidirectional cancer-platelet crosstalk and platelet-based therapeutic approaches.