Plasma-dependent and -independent mechanisms of platelet aggregation induced by human tumour cell lines

Tumour cell induced platelet aggregation (TCIPA) may facilitate haematogenous tumour metastasis. In this study of the aggregatory responses of human platelets to human tumour cell lines, we have found two distinct mechanisms of TCIPA. Colon carcinoma lines Colo 205 and Colo 397 produced TCIPA which was dependent upon thrombin generated through the activation of clotting factor VII, consistent with the expression of tissue factor activity by these cells. This mechanism was calcium dependent and was partially mediated by platelet ADP release as it was inhibited by apyrase. A uterine carcinosarcoma line (Colo 526) produced TCIPA by a novel mechanism which was dependent upon calcium, but was independent of thrombin generation and of the presence of plasma proteins, indicating that this aggregatory response is initiated by a direct platelet-tumour cell interaction.