Platelets in cancer: a big role for small cells

Early cancer detection can make treatment considerably more effective. It is becoming increasingly clear that platelets play an essential role in the development of cancer. Platelets transport growth factors in the bloodstream and they adhere to a tumour blood vessel and release their contents, they could in theory promote tumour growth. This makes platelets a potential source for developing tests to detect and monitor cancer in the earliest possible stage. This dissertation found that several platelet properties and proteins evolve at an early stage. It also argues that modifying platelet counts and measuring platelet properties is crucial to obtaining reliable results in biomarker studies. These results offer a promising first step towards developing a clinically applicable blood test to detect cancer.