The Potential Clinical Relevance of Procoagulant Microparticles as Biomarkers of Blood Coagulation in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC) is a global challenge that affects a large portion of individuals, especially women. It has been suggested that microparticles (MPs) can be used as a diagnostic, prognostic, or therapeutic biomarker in various diseases. Moreover, MPs are known to elevate in cancer cases. Platelet-derived MPs (PMPs) play a crucial role in the metastasis of BC, warranting specific focus. This study aimed to explore the involvement of procoagulant MPs in BC.

METHODS

This systematic review was carried out using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews, and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Terms defined as MESH keywords were searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library searched in from 2011 to March 2024. Experimental and quasi-experimental studies were assessed by the CONSORT checklist.

RESULTS

Eventually, 15 studies were included. 426 participants were studied in the included articles. The potential clinical relevance of MPs as biomarkers in BC was indicated. Also, the role of MPs in immune modulation and multidrug resistance was approved. PMPs were found to enhance malignant features, including migration and invasion. Moreover, there were lower levels of MPs before neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, suggesting a potential impact of chemotherapy on MPs levels. The study highlights the remarkable capacity of multidrug-resistant BC-derived MPs to alter the phenotype and functionality of immune cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings underscore the intricate interplay between MPs and cellular signaling pathways, shedding light on their potential as diagnostic biomarkers, and therapeutic targets in cancer. Specifically, the association between MPs levels and disease severity, as evidenced by their correlation with tissue-based biomarkers, tumor grading, and distant metastasis, highlights their clinical relevance in prognostication and risk stratification.