Fig. 3From: Role of platelets and platelet receptors in cancer metastasisImpact of the interaction between GPVI and galectin 3 on cancer metastasis. Galectin 3 on colon cancer cells binds to GPVI on platelets which induces GPVI clustering and ITAM phosphorylation by Fyn and Lyn kinases. Syk and finally platelet activation induces discharge of growth factors like PDGF, EGF, and TGF-β1 among others. PDGF activates PDGFR inducing an upregulation and stabilization of COX-2 and release of PGE2 from tumor cells. PGE2 in turn binds to tumor cell EP receptors, which leads to p21waf downregulation and an upregulation of cyclin B1. Additionally, a deregulation of EMT-related marker proteins is detectable with Vimentin up- and E-Cadherin downregulationBack to article page