Respiratory Viruses May Be Able To Awaken Dormant Cancer Cells In Patients With History Of Cancer, Study Finds

USA Today (7/30, Rodriguez) reports a study published in Nature found that “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.” The 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 USA Today, the study “builds on previous studies from 2020 that found COVID-19 doubled patients’ risk of dying from cancer.”