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Circulating endothelial cells in cancer patients do not express tissue factor
Laurens V Beerepoot1, Niven Mehra, Frank Linschoten
1Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology, HP F02.126, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA, The Netherlands.
Cancer Letters
|August 26, 2004
Summary
Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) in cancer patients do not express tissue factor (TF) but can generate functional TF after stimulation. This suggests CECs may play a role in tumor angiogenesis and coagulation.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Elevated circulating endothelial cells (CECs) are observed in progressive cancer.
- Cancer patients face increased thrombotic event risk, negatively impacting prognosis.
- Tissue factor (TF) initiates coagulation and is found on extravascular cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify CECs and assess their Tissue Factor (TF) activity in cancer patients.
- To investigate the potential of CECs to generate TF after stimulation.
- To explore the role of CECs in cancer-related coagulation and angiogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of CECs using anti-CD146 beads.
- Assessment of TF activity via chromogenic assay.
- Immunohistochemical analysis of TF-antigen expression on CEC subsets.
- In vitro TNF-alpha stimulation of CECs.
Main Results:
- CECs from cancer patients and volunteers showed minimal endogenous TF activity.
- In vitro TNF-alpha stimulation significantly increased TF activity in CECs from both groups.
- TF-antigen expression was undetectable on CECs, indicating they do not constitutively express TF.
- CECs demonstrate the capacity to generate functional TF upon stimulation.
Conclusions:
- CECs isolated from cancer patients do not express TF.
- CECs can generate functional TF after stimulation.
- CECs may contribute to intratumoral coagulation and tumor angiogenesis.