Chemistry

Cancer cell

Cancer

Organic chemistry

Internal medicine

Pharmacology

In vitro

Immunology

Drug delivery

Medicine

Platelet

Metastasis

Cancer research

Biochemistry

Theranostics

Extensive evidence has shown that platelets support tumor metastatic progression by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition of cancer cells and by shielding circulating tumor cells from immune-mediated elimination. Therefore, blocking platelet function represents a potential new avenue for therapy focused on eliminating metastasis. Here we show that liposomal nanoparticles bearing the tumor-homing pentapeptide CREKA (Cys-Arg-Glu-Lys-Ala) can deliver a platelet inhibitor, ticagrelor, into tumor tissues to specifically inhibit tumor-associated platelets. The drug-loaded nanoparticles (CREKA-Lipo-T) efficiently blocked the platelet-induced acquisition of an invasive phenotype by tumor cells and inhibited platelet-tumor cell interaction in vitro. Intravenously administered CREKA-Lipo-T effectively targeted tumors within 24 h, and inhibited tumor metastasis without overt side effects. Thus, the CREKA-Lipo formulation provides a simple strategy for the efficient delivery of anti-metastatic drugs and shows consid...

Inhibition of platelet function using liposomal nanoparticles blocks tumor metastasis