Tumor cells can activate platelets, which in turn facilitate tumor cell survival and dissemination. Platelets inhibition or blocking platelet–tumor cell interactions has become a strategy to suppress tumor progression. In this study, we investigated the effect of ticagrelor, a new antiplatelet drug, on tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. Our results show that ticagrelor not only inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of B16F10 and Lewis lung carcinoma cells but also induces platelet apoptosis. In addition, we find that apoptosis of the platelet cells is dose dependent. Further, the result of in-vivo experiments proved that ticagrelor treatment decreased the tumor metastasis. The results of this study demonstrate that ticagrelor may be a potential anti-tumor agent for tumor metastasis.

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It is widely accepted that tumor metastasis is the dominant factor leading to cancer-related death. Tumor metastasis is mediated by cell invasion, blood circulation and lymphatic circulation. Paclitaxel, as a common anti-tumor drug and a mitotic inhibitor, promotes microtubule assembly and inhibits microtubule depolymerization. In addition, ticagrelor, an anti-platelet drug, is used to treat acute coronary syndrome. An increasing numbers of studies have reported that platelets can facilitate tumor metastasis. Therefore, inhibiting the effects of platelets can serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for cancer. To explore the effect of anti-tumor and anti-platelet drugs on tumor progression, the murine melanoma cell line, B16F10, and Lewis Lung carcinoma (LLC) cells were treated with paclitaxel and/or ticagrelor. Interestingly, the results demonstrated that paclitaxel and ticagrelor could not only suppress the proliferation, migration and invasion of B16F10 and LLC cells, but they could also prevent tumor metastasis to the lungs. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of paclitaxel and ticagrelor was more apparent when both drugs were used in combination. Collectively, the current study demonstrated that the combination of paclitaxel and ticagrelor could be considered as a potential anti-tumor therapy approach.