Tumor-educated platelets in lung cancer

Abstract

Non-invasive diagnostic monitoring techniques have become essential for treating lung cancer (LC), which continues to be the primary cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The new diagnostic biomarkers called tumour-educated platelets (TEPs) show strong prospects for providing vital information about tumor biology, tumor spread pathways, and treatment reaction patterns. Despite lacking a nucleus, platelets exhibit an active RNA profile that develops through interactions with tumor-derived compounds and the tumor microenvironments (TME). This review explains platelet-tumour interaction regulatory mechanisms while focusing on platelet contributions toward cancer development, immune system avoidance, and blood clot formation. The detection and classification of LC show promise through the analysis of RNA molecules extracted from platelets that encompass mRNAs and non-coding RNAs. RNA sequencing technology based on TEP demonstrates excellent diagnostic power by correctly identifying LC patients alongside their oncogenic alterations of EGFR, KRAS, and ALK. Treatment predictions have proven successful using platelet RNA profiles, specifically in immunotherapy and targeted therapy. Integrating next-generation sequencing with machine learning and artificial intelligence enhances TEP-based diagnostic tools, improving detection accuracy. Standardizing platelet extraction methods and vesicle purification from tumor material needs better development for effective and affordable clinical use. Future investigations should combine TEPs with circulating tumor DNA and exosomal RNA markers to enhance both earliest-stage LC diagnosis and patient-specific therapeutic approaches. TEPs introduce a groundbreaking technique in oncology since they can transform non-invasive medical diagnostics and therapeutic monitoring for cancer.

Keywords: Liquid biopsy; Lung cancer; Non-invasive diagnostics; Platelet transcriptome; RNA biomarkers.