Platelets are involved in the development and progression of cancer through several mechanisms. Platelet activation at the site of tissue damage contributes to the initiation of a cascade of events which promote tumorigenesis. In fact, platelets release a wide array of proteins, including growth and angiogenic factors, lipids and extracellular vesicles rich in genetic material, which can mediate the induction of phenotypic changes in target cells, such as immune, stromal and tumor cells, and promote carcinogenesis and metastasis formation. Importantly, the role of platelets in tumor immune escape has been described. These lines of evidence open the way to novel strategies to fight cancer based on the use of antiplatelet agents. In addition to their ability to release factors, platelets are able of up-taking proteins and genetic material present in the bloodstream. Platelets are like ‘sentinels’ of the disease state. The evaluation of proteomics and transcriptomics signature of platelets and platelet-derived microparticles could represent a new strategy for the development of biomarkers for early cancer detection and/or therapeutic drug monitoring in cancer chemotherapy. Owing to the ability of platelets to interact with cancer cells and to deliver their cargo, platelets have been proposed as a ‘biomimetic drug delivery system’ for anti-tumor drugs to prevent the occurrence of off-target adverse events associated with the use of traditional chemotherapy.
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December 2018
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Dysfunctional cytoskeleton and neurodegeneration: novel pathways in Parkinson's disease? This image represents the degeneration of the neuronal tree during the aging process. In this issue Civiero et al. discuss the consequence of impaired cytoskeletal dynamics on neurite morphology and neuronal physiology in Parkinson's disease. For further details see pages 1653–1663.
Review Article|
November 12 2018
Platelets in cancer development and diagnosis
Annalisa Contursi;
Annalisa Contursi
*
1Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Center for Research on Aging and Translational Medicine (CeSI-MeT), ‘G. D'Annunzio’ University, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy
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Rosalia Grande;
Rosalia Grande
*
1Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Center for Research on Aging and Translational Medicine (CeSI-MeT), ‘G. D'Annunzio’ University, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy
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Melania Dovizio;
Melania Dovizio
1Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Center for Research on Aging and Translational Medicine (CeSI-MeT), ‘G. D'Annunzio’ University, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy
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Annalisa Bruno;
Annalisa Bruno
1Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Center for Research on Aging and Translational Medicine (CeSI-MeT), ‘G. D'Annunzio’ University, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy
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Rosa Fullone;
Rosa Fullone
1Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Center for Research on Aging and Translational Medicine (CeSI-MeT), ‘G. D'Annunzio’ University, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy
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Paola Patrignani
1Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Center for Research on Aging and Translational Medicine (CeSI-MeT), ‘G. D'Annunzio’ University, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Correspondence: Paola Patrignani (ppatrignani@unich.it)
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
July 16 2018
Revision Received:
September 08 2018
Accepted:
October 01 2018
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© 2018 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society
2018
Biochem Soc Trans (2018) 46 (6): 1517–1527.
Article history
Received:
July 16 2018
Revision Received:
September 08 2018
Accepted:
October 01 2018
Citation
Annalisa Contursi, Rosalia Grande, Melania Dovizio, Annalisa Bruno, Rosa Fullone, Paola Patrignani; Platelets in cancer development and diagnosis. Biochem Soc Trans 17 December 2018; 46 (6): 1517–1527. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20180159
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