Ticagrelor for the Prevention of Breast Cancer Metastasis: a Preclinical Study

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in Canadian women and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Despite advances in screening and treatments, more than 5,000 Canadian women will die each year due to the ability of breast cancer cells to spread, or metastasize, to different parts of the body. This highlights the need for new therapies to prevent breast cancer metastasis. Recent research has shown that cancer cells can avoid being detected and killed by the body’s defenses by covering themselves in a layer of platelets, the cells that normally help to form clot and stop bleeding. Cancer cells can also use platelets to stick to the inner walls of blood vessels in order to exit the bloodstream and enter different organs. Finally, cancer cells can take up molecules produced by platelets to help accelerate their own growth. Dr. Bezuhly’s group hopes to determine whether breast cancer metastasis can be reduced by blocking cancer cells from sticking to platelets and using them for their own purposes. Currently, the drug ticagrelor (Brilinta™) is used to reduce the ability of platelets to stick to each other and form clot in patients who are at risk of heart attack and stroke caused by abnormal clot formation. Dr. Bezuhly’s group will determine whether this drug may also prevent platelets from sticking to breast cancer cells and using them to accelerate their own growth and spread to distant organs in mice. Dr. Bezuhly’s group will also determine whether ticagrelor administration following surgical removal of established breast tumours can decrease metastasis and increase survival in mice. This work will help establish the rationale and design for future clinical trials in a breast cancer patient population.