TNF and cancer: Basic experimental studies showed that tumorigenesis and metastasis can be promoted by activated platelets through a wide variety of crosstalk between platelets and cancer cells (6, 7): (1) Platelet activation releases growth factors and small molecules that facilitate tumor adhesion and extravasation, thereby supporting cancer cell transmigration and metastasis formation; (2) Platelet-tumor cell aggregates form and platelets protect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from NK cell and TNF-a induced cell death.