Monitoring circulating platelet activity to predict cancer-associated thrombosis, 2023, Li et al.

Monitoring circulating platelet activity to predict cancer-associated thrombosis
Li; Lu; Yang; Zhang; Wang; Chu; Wang; Qi; Anderson; Jiang; Song; Nie; Li

A characteristic clinical complication in cancer patients is the frequent incidence of thrombotic events. Numerous studies have shown hyperactive/activated platelets to be a critical earlier trigger for cancer-asso- ciated thrombus formation. However, there currently is no viable approach to monitor specific changes in tumor-associated platelet activity.

Here, we describe a chromatograph-like microfluidic device that is highly sensitive to the activity status of peripheral circulating platelets in both tumor-bearing mice and clinical can- cer patients. Our results show a strongly positive correlation between platelet activation status and tumor progression. Six-month follow-up data from advanced cancer patients reveal positive links between platelet activity level and thrombus occurrence rate, with a high predictive capacity of thrombotic events (AUC = 0.842).

Our findings suggest that circulating platelet activity status determined by this microfluidic device exhibits sensitive, predictive potential for thrombotic events in cancer patients for directing well-timed antith- rombosis treatment.

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