A major new study<\/b>, published in the journal JAMA<\/b>, may explain the unusual rise in cancer metastasis<\/b> during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research, conducted by British and American scientists, showed that viral infections like the flu and SARS-CoV-2<\/b> could potentially awaken dormant tumor cells<\/b>.<\/p>\n
The idea for the study came to Professor Hugh Montgomery<\/b>, a professor of intensive care medicine at University College London, after his sister, who was in remission following treatment for breast cancer, died of cancer a few months after being infected with COVID-19.<\/p>\n
Montgomery and his colleagues noticed a sharp increase in the number of patients presenting with advanced forms of cancer<\/b> during the pandemic. Although this was generally attributed to delays in screening and treatment, the professor found this explanation unconvincing.<\/p>\n
The scientists conducted the research based on both animal models<\/b> and epidemiological data<\/b>.<\/p>\n
Experiments on mice showed that dormant breast cancer cells<\/b> in the lungs were activated within days of infection with the flu virus or SARS-CoV-2, developing into metastatic lesions<\/b> within two weeks.<\/p>\n
Analysis of human data, which included the UK Biobank<\/b> and Flatiron Health<\/b> databases, confirmed this link. Patients in remission who were diagnosed with COVID-19 were at an almost two-fold greater risk<\/b> of cancer-related mortality<\/b> than those who were not infected. Among women in remission from breast cancer, the risk of developing lung metastases<\/b> was also increased after COVID-19.<\/p>\n
The researchers hypothesize that this effect is caused by the inflammatory response<\/b> triggered by the viral infection.<\/p>\n
Experiments in mice revealed that the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6)<\/b> plays a key role<\/b> in activating dormant tumor cells. This inflammatory mediator, which helps the body fight off viruses, promotes the proliferation<\/b> of tumor cells and the formation of metastases in the presence of cancer cells.<\/p>\n
Professor James DeGregori notes that this process involves the awakening of pre-existing, dormant tumor cells through inflammatory processes<\/b>.<\/p>\n
Although the study primarily focused on COVID-19 and the flu, the scientists suggest that the link may apply to any acute viral infection<\/b> that causes severe inflammation<\/b>.<\/p>\n
The study’s authors stress that people in remission from cancer should take every possible measure to prevent infection<\/b>. Professor Montgomery adds that while it is an individual decision, it is important to realize that acute infections can have long-term consequences<\/b> for cancer patients.<\/p>\n