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Updated: Oct 11, 2025
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Helical Organization of Blood Coagulation Factor VIII on Lipid Nanotubes
Published on: June 3, 2014
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Factor VIII as a potential player in cancer pathophysiology
Gillian E Walker1, Simone Merlin1, Diego Zanolini1
1Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.
Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis : JTH
|November 30, 2021
Summary
Cancer cells, including bladder cancer, directly produce and secrete bioactive factor VIII (FVIII), a key clotting protein. This finding suggests a novel role for FVIII in cancer-related thrombosis independent of other coagulation factors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Hematology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The Trousseau sign historically linked cancer and thrombosis.
- Cancer patients have a significantly higher risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE).
- Factor VIII (FVIII) is an independent VTE risk factor in cancer, but its mechanism is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate direct expression and secretion of FVIII by cancer cells.
- To explore the role of FVIII in cancer-associated thrombosis.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of FVIII in bladder cancer tissues and cell lines.
- Examination of FVIII protein and secretion in bladder cancer cells.
- Bioinformatic analysis of FVIII and related gene mRNA in 811 cancer cell lines (Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia).
Main Results:
- FVIII mRNA and protein were elevated in bladder neoplasms compared to normal epithelium.
- Bioactive FVIII was synthesized and secreted by bladder cancer cells.
- FVIII expression patterns in other cancer cell lines varied by tumor origin and were independent of von Willebrand factor (VWF).
Conclusions:
- Cancer cells can directly produce and secrete bioactive FVIII.
- FVIII may play an independent role in cancer pathophysiology and thrombosis.
- This discovery opens new avenues for understanding and potentially treating cancer-related VTE.
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