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3d ago

Flu and COVID-19 Shown to Awaken Dormant Cancer Cells in Lungs

Targeting interleukin-6 during infection could help prevent viral inflammation from reactivating cancer cells.

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Radiation therapist Kristen Sherry-Taylor prepares a medical linear accelerator for a patient at the Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers in Aurora on Thursday, March 17, 2022.
An illustration of cancer cells marked with green, and the proliferation of cells marked in magenta.
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Overview

  • Mouse studies published July 30 in Nature reveal that influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections trigger IL-6–driven inflammation that awakens dormant tumor cells in pulmonary tissue.
  • UK Biobank analysis links SARS-CoV-2 infection with a twofold increase in cancer-related mortality among cancer survivors.
  • Flatiron Health data indicate that breast cancer patients who contracted COVID-19 face more than a 40% higher risk of developing lung metastases.
  • Researchers observed that once respiratory infections resolved, awakened cancer cells returned to dormancy in mice, implying additional factors are needed for metastatic growth.
  • Investigators recommend vaccination and limiting exposure to respiratory viruses while exploring IL-6 inhibitors to curb infection-driven cancer relapse.