Advancing Tissue Factor-targeted Therapy for Osteosarcoma via Understanding its Role in the Tumor Microenvironment

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Hematology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Coagulation activation is linked to cancer progression and patient morbidity.
• The tumor microenvironment (TME) is increasingly understood to be influenced by coagulation proteases.
• Osteosarcoma (OS) treatment strategies require novel approaches targeting its unique microenvironment.

Approach:

• This review focuses on the coagulation system as a therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.
• Tissue factor (TF), the primary initiator of the extrinsic coagulation pathway, is identified as a key target.
• The role of TF in driving tumor progression, metastasis, and TME modulation in carcinomas, including OS, is examined.

Key Points:

• Cell surface-TF, TF-positive extracellular vesicles, and circulating tumor cells contribute to cancer progression and TME.
• TF is the principal catalyst of the extrinsic coagulation pathway.
• Targeting tumor-associated coagulation via TF presents a promising therapeutic avenue for OS.

Conclusions:

• TF is a crucial mediator in the tumor microenvironment of osteosarcoma.
• Developing strategies to target TF represents a promising new direction for osteosarcoma treatment.
• Interfering with the extrinsic coagulation pathway through TF inhibition could offer therapeutic benefits for OS patients.