Work

Platelet-Tumor Interactions: From Mechanisms Promoting Metastasis to Novel Targeted Therapeutic Strategies

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: Platelets are anucleate blood cells that primarily mediate hemostasis and thrombosis. Tumor metastasis represents the leading cause of mortality among cancer patients, and platelet-mediated hematogenous metastasis constitutes a critical step facilitating the dissemination of tumor cells. A wealth of evidence has demonstrated a close correlation between platelets and tumor progression. Platelets aggregate around circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and drive tumor metastasis via multiple mechanisms: shielding CTCs from hemodynamic shear stress and immune cell attack, inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), promoting the formation of pre-metastatic niches (PMNs), and enabling immune evasion. Targeted therapeutic strategies built on the interplay between platelets and tumors are of great significance for restraining tumor metastasis and prolonging patient survival. This review comprehensively elaborates on the mechanisms by which platelets promote tumor metastasis, summarizes the merits and relevant strategies of platelet-targeted therapies, and offers novel insights for the suppression of tumor metastasis.

Source: International Journal of Nanomedicine

DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s649895