Platelet Glycoprotein lb-1X and Malignancy.

摘要

This report describes studies that document the use of mouse models of platelet dysfunction in the progression of cancer to metastatic disease. The work used genetically modified mouse strains with dysfunctional platelet membrane receptors. The studies examined the relevance of platelet receptors in models of spontaneous metastasis and models of experimental metastasis. A transgenic C57BL/6J mouse colony expressing MMTV-PyV middle antigen in mammary epithelium and dysfunctional platelets was developed. Mammary gland tumor and lung metastases develop in these mice spontaneously so they will be used in spontaneous metastasis experiments. Breeding with congenic colonies with defective platelet GP receptors will determine the relevance of platelet adhesion and activation to spontaneous tumor metastasis. The importance of metastasis in the prognosis for recovery from breast cancer cannot be under emphasized. Indeed, the spread of metastatic disease represents a fundamental change in significantly shortening the life span of patients with breast cancer. Thus, understanding the molecules that regulate metastasis identifies potential targets for therapeutic intervention that could significantly improve the prognosis for the breast cancer patient.