Fig. 4

CQ inhibition of NETs reverses platelet aggregation and decreases tissue factor. In vitro treatment of whole blood with CQ led to a significant reduction in platelet aggregation in blood harvested from tumor bearing mice (a, AUC 50 ± 2.4 vs. 68.1 ± 8.8, n = 4, p < 0.05). Treatment of mice with CQ led to a decrease in aggregation in tumor bearing animals with no change in sham (b, AUC 52.6 ± 5.3 vs. 68.1 ± 8.8, n = 4, p < 0.05). Importantly, CQ had minimal effects in PAD4KO mice, suggesting that it decreases platelet aggregation through inhibition of NETs (c). CQ treatment led to a decrease in circulating tissue factor in tumor bearing mice (d, 186.9 ± 5.6 vs. 228.2 ± 21 pg/mL, p < 0.05). Hydroxychloroquine treatment resulted in significant reduction in tissue factor levels in patients with elevated preoperative serum tissue factor compared to control, with a mean response to treatment of − 240 ± 120 versus − 8.74 ± 26 pg/mL (p < 0.05, n = 10 gem/nab-paclitaxel, n = 7 HCQ). Waterfall plot demonstrating individual treatment response to gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel with and without hydroxychloroquine in patients with elevated preoperative levels (e)