ABSTRACT
The process of tumor metastasis is extremely complicated. The growing evidence indicates that platelets are closely involved in hematogenous metastasis of tumors. Platelets can secret an array of bioactive factors to help cancer cells evading immune surveillance and natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity, induce epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT), proliferation, invasion of tumor cells, and subsequently promote cancer progression. Recent studies have showed that the interaction between platelet-activating C-type lectin-like receptor-2 (CLEC-2) and its ligand podoplanin (PDPN) can activate platelets and affect the proliferation, migration, and metastasis of tumor cells. Therefore, using anti-CLEC-2 antibody and blocking the CLEC-2/PDPN interaction maybe the novel anticancer treatments. This review illuminates the role of CLEC-2 in hematogenous metastasis of tumors and its clinical application prospect.