Human platelet-tumor cell interactions vary with the tumor cell lines.

Platelets may promote the development of metastasis, and tumor cells that aggregate platelets are believed to be more malignant. We studied three different human mammary carcinoma cell lines, which had different interactions with human platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The MCF-7 and the T47-D cell lines induced an adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-mediated platelet aggregation. The third cell line, MDA-MB 231 did not induce any platelet aggregation. On the contrary, this cell line inhibited ADP- and arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation. This inhibiting activity is mainly adenosine-mediated. The mechanism by which platelets may contribute to the dissemination of cancer could be related to platelet growth factors. MCF-7 and T47-D cell lines induced a release of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). On the contrary, the MDA-MB 231 cell line did not induce any platelet release. The role of these platelet growth factors in tumor cell growth is discussed.