Fig. 3

The amplification of tumour growth by binding and subsequent activation of platelets. Cancer cells activate and bind to activated platelets via P-selectin expressed on the platelet membranes. This results in the release of mitogens including VEGF, PDGF and TGFβ that increase growth and vascularization of the tumour mass. These factors further activate platelets following the release of constituents, amplifying the platelet–cancer loop (produced with Microsoft^® PowerPoint^®) [31]