Platelet mediated TRAIL delivery for efficiently targeting circulating tumor cells

Several studies have demonstrated the role of platelets in promoting cancer metastasis. Platelets bind to and protect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from hemodynamic forces and immune cells, and also promote tumor cell arrest in the vasculature and extravasation. Thus, platelets represent a promising vehicle to deliver anticancer therapeutic agents to CTCs. In this study, we developed a novel platelet-mediated TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) delivery system to target CTCs and hinder metastasis via “in situ” platelet modification. This platelet-mediated TRAIL delivery significantly reduced the viability of colorectal and breast cancer cells circulating in flowing blood under physiological shear conditions. TRAIL-coated platelets significantly killed over 60% of CTCs in flowing blood from a variety of primary metastatic cancer samples. Platelets have been considered an important player in the regulation of metastasis due to their interaction with cancer cells in the circulation; the current study supports the idea of using platelet-based TRAIL delivery as a promising CTC-targeted cancer therapy.