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Updated: Dec 14, 2025

Author Spotlight: High-Sensitivity Tissue Factor Activity Assay for Plasma Diagnosis
Published on: December 29, 2023
Beyond thrombosis: the impact of tissue factor signaling in cancer
Dusten Unruh1, Craig Horbinski2,3
1Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, 303 East Superior St, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA. dusten.unruh@northwestern.edu.
Abstract:
Tissue factor (TF) is the primary initiator of the coagulation cascade, though its effects extend well beyond hemostasis. When TF binds to Factor VII, the resulting TF:FVIIa complex can proteolytically cleave transmembrane G protein-coupled protease-activated receptors (PARs). In addition to activating PARs, TF:FVIIa complex can also activate receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and integrins. These signaling pathways are utilized by tumors to increase cell proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and cancer stem-like cell maintenance. Herein, we review in detail the regulation of TF expression, mechanisms of TF signaling, their pathological consequences, and how it is being targeted in experimental cancer therapeutics.
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