This thesis describes i) the function of an alternatively spliced coagulation factor in hemostasis, ii) the contribution of coagulation factors on cancer progression, and iii) expands our view... Show moreThis thesis describes i) the function of an alternatively spliced coagulation factor in hemostasis, ii) the contribution of coagulation factors on cancer progression, and iii) expands our view on cancer-associated thrombosis. Inhibition of Tissue Factor (TF) signaling with the antibody (Mab-10H10) resulted in decreased tumor initiating capacity and metastasis in a triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line. Since this is a tumor type that is difficult to treat, and has high relapse-rates, it would be of interest to target TF signaling. Dual treatment of TNBC with conventional chemotherapy and Mab-10H10 could result in a positive treatment strategy as both highly proliferative and cancer stem cells are targeted. Furthermore, we provided a proof-of-principle study to search for novel biomarkers in patients with cancer-associated thrombosis in an unbiased manner. Up till now it is challenging to accurately predict those cancer patients with elevated risk of thrombosis. Furthermore, patients with cancer-associated thrombosis have poorer survival. Expansion of this study to validation cohorts and other tumor types will give insights in the underlying molecular mechanism of cancer-associated thrombosis. Eventually, this will aid a better prediction model to select those cancer patients with high risk of thrombosis and those who might benefit from thromboprophylaxis. Show less
