biostudies-literatureMurphy LCancer Research UKMedical Research Councileadp3971https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7618233biostudies-literatureUnknown389(6761)Platelets are anucleate blood cells vital for hemostasis and immunity. During cell death and aberrant mitosis, nucleated cells release DNA, resulting in "cell-free" DNA in plasma (cfDNA). An excess of cfDNA is deleterious. Given their ability to internalize pathogen-derived nucleic acids, we hypothesized that platelets may also clear endogenous cfDNA. We found that, despite lacking a nucleus, platelets contained a repertoire of DNA fragments mapping across the nuclear genome. We detected fetal DNA in maternal platelets and cancer-derived DNA in platelets from patients with premalignant and cancerous lesions. As current liquid biopsy approaches utilize platelet-depleted plasma, important genetic information contained within platelets is being missed. This study establishes a physiological rScience (New York, N.Y.)Platelets sequester extracellular DNA, capturing tumor-derived and free fetal DNA.PMC7618233RCCSCF-May24/10000129034EDDCPJT\100003MR/T04490X/1Gregory CDBiswas SO'Sullivan JLeedham SEtzioni ZDesborough MKriaucionis SRimmer MPHitchcock ISJooss NJKhan AOMead AJVatish MMurphy LBenlabiod CInchauspe JHolland PShepherd ERees PSchuster-Bockler BKarali CSDenly LChen LSousos NBelnoue-Davis HLPsaila BHughes JRLi RMurphy ENasreddin NO'Neill EValenzano GKoupenova MfalsePlatelets sequester extracellular DNA, capturing tumor-derived and free fetal DNA.Platelets are anucleate blood cells vital for hemostasis and immunity. During cell death and aberrant mitosis, nucleated cells release DNA, resulting in "cell-free" DNA in plasma (cfDNA). An excess of cfDNA is deleterious. Given their ability to internalize pathogen-derived nucleic acids, we hypothesized that platelets may also clear endogenous cfDNA. We found that, despite lacking a nucleus, platelets contained a repertoire of DNA fragments mapping across the nuclear genome. We detected fetal DNA in maternal platelets and cancer-derived DNA in platelets from patients with premalignant and cancerous lesions. As current liquid biopsy approaches utilize platelet-depleted plasma, important genetic information contained within platelets is being missed. This study establishes a physiological r2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Aug2026-06-04T08:52:28.447Z2026-05-07T03:12:29.763ZS-EPMC76182334081153410.1126/science.adp3971