Tissue factor and cancer stem cells-is there a linkage?

A common feature in the progression of multiple human malignancies is the protracted deregulation of the coagulation system, often referred to as cancer coagulopathy. Indeed, cancer cells and their vascular stroma often exhibit procoagulant properties, of which deregulation of tissue factor (TF) expression is a notable, although not the sole example. These changes can be traced to oncogenic influences affecting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), EGFRvIII, K-ras, p53, PTEN and probably many other proto-oncogenes and tumour suppressors in tumour parenchyma. Cancer stem cells (CSCs)/tumour initiating cells (TICs) are thought to represent the primary target and the main cellular effector, through which oncogenic mutations exert their tumour-inducing effects. [...