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Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Monitoring Functionality and Morphology of Vasculature Recruited by Factors Secreted by Fast-growing Tumor-generating Cells
Published on: November 23, 2014
Pharmacological regulation of platelet factors that influence tumor angiogenesis
MengJie Yan1, Gabriela Lesyk1, Aneta Radziwon-Balicka1
1Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
In addition to maintaining hemostasis, platelets play an important pathological role driving tumor growth and metastasis. One mechanism by which platelets contribute to tumor growth and metastasis is their potent promotion of angiogenesis. This is accomplished in large part by the numerous factors stored, generated, and released by platelets that have the potential to influence every stage of angiogenesis. In this review, we provide an overview of the many platelet-secreted pro- and anti-angiogenic factors. We examine the basic science and clinical evidence supporting their contributions to tumor angiogenesis. Finally, we review the pharmacological regulation of their release from platelets and discuss the potential of anti-platelet drugs as adjuvant anti-angiogenesis therapy.
In addition to maintaining hemostasis, platelets play an important pathological role driving tumor growth and metastasis. One mechanism by which platelets contribute to tumor growth and metastasis is their potent promotion of angiogenesis. This is accomplished in large part by the numerous factors stored, generated, and released by platelets that have the potential to influence every stage of angiogenesis. In this review, we provide an overview of the many platelet-secreted pro- and anti-angiogenic factors. We examine the basic science and clinical evidence supporting their contributions to tumor angiogenesis. Finally, we review the pharmacological regulation of their release from platelets and discuss the potential of anti-platelet drugs as adjuvant anti-angiogenesis therapy.
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