BSCI-04. Tumor-educated platelets promote breast cancer brain metastasis and therapeutic resistance. (9th August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tabet, Elie; Tannous, Bakhos
• Is Part Of: Neuro-oncology advances. Volume 3(2021)Supplement 3
• Page Start: iii1
• Page End: iii2
• Publication Date: 2021-08-09
• Subjects: 616.99481
• DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdab071.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2632-2498

Abstract

Abstract: Platelets have been shown to play an important role in systemic and local tumor modulation. Once encountered by tumor cells, platelets are educated to collect and release pro-tumor factors in the tumor/microenvironment, serving as a guiding partner for metastasis. This educational program, however, is not well understood. Here, we show that tumor-educated platelets (TEPs) acquire tumor promoting functions and drive breast cancer progression, metastasis to distal sites including the brain, as well as therapeutic resistance. Importantly, TEPs promoted an increased pro-tumorigenic effect on metastatic breast cancer, compared to their wild-type counterpart, leading to epithelial to mesenchymal transition through NF-κB/STAT3 signaling axis via C/EBPβ transcription factor. Our findings point to the important role of TEPs in breast cancer brain metastasis and therapeutic resistance, which could have a major implication in other tumor types, endorsing TEPs as a potential therapeutic target.