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Updated: Sep 21, 2025

Adaptation of Semiautomated Circulating Tumor Cell CTC Assays for Clinical and Preclinical Research Applications
Published on: February 28, 2014
Platelets involved tumor cell EMT during circulation: communications and interventions
Xiaoying Wang1,2,3, Songyan Zhao1, Zhaoxia Wang4
1Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Distant spreading of metastatic tumor cells is still the leading cause of tumor death. Metastatic spreading is a complex process, in which epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the primary and key event to promote it. Presently, extensive reviews have given insights on the occurrence of EMT at the primary tumor site that depends on invasive properties of tumor cells and the tumor-associated microenvironment. However, essential roles of circulation environment involved in tumor cell EMT is not well summarized. As a main constituent of the blood, platelet is increasingly found to work as an important activator to induce EMT. Therefore, this review aims to emphasize the novel role of platelet in EMT through signal communications between platelets and circulation tumor cells, and illustrate potent interventions aiming at their communications. It may give a complementary view of EMT in addition to the tissue microenvironment, help for better understand the hematogenous metastasis, and also illustrate theoretical and practical basis for the targeted inhibition. Video abstract.
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