Platelet activation induced by a human neuroblastoma tumor cell line is reduced by prior administration of ticlopidine.

Ticlopidine (250 mg twice daily) was administered to human volunteers for seven days and the response of their heparinized platelet-rich plasma to SKNMC (ADP-dependent) human neuroblastoma cells was examined. The first wave of platelet aggregation, characteristic of ADP-dependent human tumor cell lines, was completely abolished but was replaced by a lag period prior to the onset of aggregation. In the Baumgartner perfusion apparatus there was a marked inhibition in the thrombus generated by the presence of SKNMC cells with a concomitant increase in the percentage of surface coverage. These results suggest that the administration of ticlopidine could be useful to prevent some of the steps of metastatic dissemination in which activated platelets may play a role.