Obeagu Emmanuel Ifeanyi
Department of Biomedical and Laboratory Science, Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe.
Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2025 May 21;87(6):3356-3361. doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000003091. eCollection 2025 Jun.
Platelet activation is increasingly recognized as a key factor in breast cancer progression, contributing to tumor growth, metastasis, and immune modulation. Platelets interact with tumor cells to promote their survival, facilitate metastasis, and enhance the formation of a pro-inflammatory microenvironment. These interactions are mediated by adhesion molecules such as P-selectin and glycoprotein receptors on both platelets and tumor cells. Additionally, activated platelets release growth factors like vascular endothelial growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor, which promote angiogenesis and tumor vascularization, crucial steps in cancer progression. The coagulation cascade, triggered by platelet activation, further enhances tumor cell dissemination and metastasis. Elevated levels of procoagulant activity in platelets, particularly through the expression of tissue factor, lead to increased thrombin generation, facilitating the formation of fibrin-rich clots that protect circulating tumor cells from immune surveillance. Platelet-derived factors also exert immunomodulatory effects, helping cancer cells evade detection by the immune system, thereby supporting tumor growth and spread.
血小板活化日益被认为是乳腺癌进展的关键因素，它有助于肿瘤生长、转移和免疫调节。血小板与肿瘤细胞相互作用，促进肿瘤细胞存活，促进转移，并增强促炎微环境的形成。这些相互作用由血小板和肿瘤细胞上的粘附分子如P-选择素和糖蛋白受体介导。此外，活化的血小板释放血管内皮生长因子和血小板衍生生长因子等生长因子，促进血管生成和肿瘤血管化，这是癌症进展中的关键步骤。由血小板活化引发的凝血级联反应进一步增强肿瘤细胞的播散和转移。血小板中促凝活性水平升高，特别是通过组织因子的表达，导致凝血酶生成增加，促进富含纤维蛋白的凝块形成，保护循环肿瘤细胞免受免疫监视。血小板衍生因子还发挥免疫调节作用，帮助癌细胞逃避免疫系统的检测，从而支持肿瘤生长和扩散。
