Flu, COVID may 'wake up' dormant cancer cells, new study finds
Respiratory viruses, such as the flu and COVID-19, may be able to “wake up” dormant cancer cells in patients who have a history of cancer, according to a new study.
Researchers tested this hypothesis in mice that contained disseminated cancer cells, which are cells that have broken away from the primary tumor and spread to other organs, where they remain dormant.
They exposed the mice to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, or the influenza viruses. In both cases, the infections triggered inflammation that awakened the dormant cells located in the lungs, according to the study published July 30 in Nature.
“Dormant cancer cells are like the embers left in an abandoned campfire, and respiratory viruses are like a strong wind that reignites the flames,” said James DeGregori, study senior author and deputy director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center.
The study builds on previous studies from 2020 that found COVID-19 doubled patients’ risk of dying from cancer. Patients were unvaccinated, so it’s unclear if or how this would impact their risk of cancer, said Julio Aguirre-Ghiso, director of the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center’s dormancy institute who co-led the mice study.
It’s also unclear if there are other factors at play, as the study showed the awakened cancer cells in the mice went back to sleep once the respiratory infection was resolved, he said.
“That indicates that more than one event, caused by viruses or other sources, might be needed for these metastatic cells to grow and become life-threatening,” Aguirre-Ghiso said. More research is needed and the study is “step one of future efforts.”
Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@usatoday.com.