Abstract
Platelets have been shown to promote the growth of tumors, including colorectal cancer. The RNA profile of tumor-educated platelets has the possibility for cancer diagnosis. We used RNA sequencing to identified the gene expression signature in platelets from colorectal cancer patients and healthy volunteers. We then verified the selected biomarkers from the RNA sequencing in a two-step case-control study using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. We found that TIMP1 mRNA levels are higher in platelets from colorectal cancer patients than in platelets from healthy volunteers and patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. Additionally, TIMP1 mRNA expressed in platelets from colorectal cancer patients can be carried into colorectal cancer cells, where it promotes tumor growth in vivo and in vitro. These findings show that the TIMP1 mRNA in platelets is a potential independent diagnostic biomarker for colorectal cancer, and that platelets can carry RNAs into colorectal cancer cells to promote colorectal cancer development.
Highlights
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a very malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality rates [1]
Peterson et al [8] found that levels of VEGF, PDGF, and PF4 are higher in the platelets from CRC patients than in age-matched healthy control subjects
It is known that platelets promote tumor growth and metastasis through secretion of proteins and RNAs that accelerate tumor proliferation [15,16]
Summary
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a very malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality rates [1]. The blood-based liquid biopsy to detect free DNA (ctDNA) or circulating tumor cells has been shown to be a possible noninvasive method for CRC screening [2]. This technique requires a complicated separation processes and cannot be used for early diagnosis because the amounts of ctDNA and CTCs are too low [2,3]. The platelet RNA panel www.aging-us.com was validated in an independent cohort, and was used to accurately differentiate early-stage and late-stage cancer patients from healthy control subjects [9,10]
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