Platelets play a pivotal role in cancer metastasis through diverse mechanisms, including the promotion of angiogenesis, induction of epithelial–mesenchymal transition, remodeling of the extracellular matrix, and the establishment of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. In this study, we investigated the effects of blood-activating and stasis-dispelling herbal medicine (BASDH) extracts, traditionally used to enhance blood circulation, on platelet activation-mediated migration and invasion of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Extracts from 18 BASDHs were first screened for cytotoxicity in MC38 CRC cells and for platelet toxicity, and non-toxic concentrations were used for subsequent functional assays. All extracts significantly suppressed MC38 cell-induced platelet activation, as evidenced by reduced ATP release. Furthermore, co-culture with platelets markedly enhanced the migration and invasion of MC38 cells, indicating that CRC cell-induced platelet activation augments their metastatic potential. Among the 18 BASDH extracts, 15 inhibited platelet activation-driven migration, and 12 reduced invasion. Notably, Spatholobus suberectus extract exhibited the most potent inhibitory effects on both migration and invasion. Collectively, these findings suggest that BASDH extracts effectively attenuate the metastatic ability of CRC cells by inhibiting platelet activation, supporting their potential as promising adjunctive agents for preventing CRC metastasis.
Jeong et al. (2025) studied this question.