Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Thrombosis and Hemostasis Issues in Cancer, 2026
Vol. 5 No. s1 (2026)
Platelet-derived thromboxane A2 induces cyclooxygenase-2 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition marker genes in U-87MG human glioblastoma cells
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Published: 16 April 2026
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Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive, treatment-resistant brain tumor. Elevated platelet counts are associated with tumor growth, and platelets accumulate in GBM tumors. Our study found that cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression and prostaglandin (PG)E₂ biosynthesis increase during the formation of U-87MG GBM cell spheroids. The COX-2 inhibitors celecoxib and rofecoxib inhibited PGE2 biosynthesis and reduced U-87MG spheroid growth. In cocultures of platelets with U-87MG spheroids, enhanced thromboxane (TX)B₂ was reduced by the selective exposure of platelets to aspirin, suggesting a platelet origin. In U-87MG cells, platelets increased the expression of COX-2 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker genes. We prevented these effects by pretreating platelets with aspirin to inhibit TXA2 biosynthesis or with a TXA2 receptor antagonist. A TXA2 mimetic stimulated the expression of both COX-2 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in spheroids. Altogether, these findings indicate that platelet TXA2 induces COX-2 and promotes EMT in U-87MG cells. Aspirin, by inhibiting platelet TXA2, could contribute to reduced tumor growth and invasion in GBM.
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Supporting Agencies
Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca (MIUR) , European Union (European Social Fund- PON Research and Innovation 2014-2020)How to Cite
1.
Di Berardino S, Contursi A, Tacconelli S, Ahfaz HA, Patrignani P. Platelet-derived thromboxane A2 induces cyclooxygenase-2 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition marker genes in U-87MG human glioblastoma cells. Bleeding Thromb Vasc Biol [Internet]. 2026 Apr. 16 [cited 2026 Apr. 17];5(s1). Available from: https://www.btvb.org/btvb/article/view/443
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