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. 2026 Sep 22;16:1951597. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2026.1951597

Figure 3.

Diagram depicting the interaction between megakaryocytes, platelets, and tumor cells. It shows resting and activated platelets transferring various molecules, such as TNS1 mRNA and circular RNAs, affecting tumor microenvironment processes including cell-cycle control, GTPase/ATPase activity, and tumor cell metastasis, proliferation, and apoptosis.

Proposed mechanisms of platelet-derived circRNAs in tumor cells. During megakaryocyte differentiation and maturation, circFUT8 binds to IGF2BP2 in an m6A-dependent manner and stabilizes TNS1 mRNA, thereby contributing to thrombopoiesis and platelet production. Activated platelets contain USP32, EXOC5, IQGAP2, DAAM1, TMCO3, circNRIP1, circBTAF1, and circFUT8, and may transfer these circRNAs to tumor cells. circFUT8 can sponge miR-145 or modulate the miR-944/YES1 axis. USP32, EXOC5, IQGAP2, DAAM1, and TMCO3 are involved in cell-cycle control, cell division, chromatin organization, GTPase/ATPase activity, and microtubule-related regulation. circNRIP1 regulates the miR−653/ZEB2 axis. These mechanisms regulate tumor cell proliferation, tumor cell metastasis, and tumor cell apoptosis. Solid arrows indicate experimentally supported relationships, whereas dashed arrows indicate proposed or predicted relationships that have not yet been experimentally confirmed.