Consequently,
How influenza covid-19 can wake:
The flu, the COVVI-19… Are respiratory infections capable of waking up dormant cancer cells? Moreover, This is what a study of the University of Colorado. Consequently, the Montefiore Einstein (MECCC) and the University of Utrecht (Netherlands) published on July 30, 2025 in the journal Nature. Similarly, According to the results obtained in mice. For example, the flu and the COVVI-19 have reactivated cancer cells in the sleeping breast and which had spread to the lungs.
This work is associated with research that has effectively shown an increase in mortality. Furthermore, pulmonary metastases in cancer survivors infected with SARS-COV-2, the COVVI-19 responsible virus.
Viruses capable of rekindling the embers – How influenza covid-19 can wake
Previous work how influenza covid-19 can wake suggested that the inflammatory process could awaken scattered cancer. Consequently, cells (CCD) that remained dormant for long periods.
These are cells that have detached themselves from a primary tumor to win other organs at a distance. In addition, “During the Pandemic of COVID-19. Similarly, anecdotal reports suggested a possible increase in cancer mortality rates, reinforcing the hypothesis that severe inflammation could help to awaken dormant CCDs,” said Dr. Aguirre-Ghiso, co-director of the study.
To verify this hypothesis. the researchers tested it on murine models with metastatic breast cancer as well as dormant CCDs in the lungs.
The mice were exhibited at SARS-COV-2 or the flu virus. In both cases, respiratory infections woke up the dormant CCDs.
Results ? A massive proliferation of metastatic cells a few days after the infection. the appearance of metastatic lesions in two weeks.
“Dormant cancer cells are comparable to the how influenza covid-19 can wake embers of an abandoned campfire. and respiratory viruses are comparable to a violent wind that rekindles the flames,” summarizes Dr. Degregori, the main author of the study.
A new therapeutic target?
At the heart of the mechanism, interleukin 6, this protein released by immune cells in the event of injury or infection. “The identification of the IL-6 as a key mediator of the CCD awakening suggests that the use of IL-6 inhibitors. other targeted immunotherapy could prevent or alleviate the resurgence of metastases after a viral infection,” notes Dr. Aguirre-Ghiso.
The team of researchers was able to confirm their discoveries by analyzing two major databases. The UK Biobank, a general population cohort, more than 500,000 participants, received a cancer diagnosis.
Scientists focused on cancer survivors diagnosed at least five years before the pandemic. which allowed them to make sure they were probably in remission. Among them, how influenza covid-19 can wake 487 people were tested positive for COVID-19, then compared to 4,350 witnesses whose test was negative.
After having excluded patients who had received a cancer diagnosis. died from the COVIR, the researchers found that patients who had received a cancer diagnosis, tested positive for the COVID, presented a almost doubled risk of dying of cancer Compared to patients who have been suffering from cancer and negative tested at the COVID.
50 % additional risk of developing pulmonary metastases
The second population study is based on Flatiron Health’s data. a start-up that stacks millions of clinical data from cancer patients.
Researchers have extracted data from patients with breast cancer. followed in 280 anti-cancer centers in the United States and compared pulmonary metastases in positive and negative COVID patients.
According to the results. patients who contracted the SARS-COV-2 virus presented almost 50 % risk of developing pulmonary how influenza covid-19 can wake metastases compared to patients with breast cancer without diagnosis of COVVI-19.
“By understanding the underlying mechanisms. we will actively work on the development of interventions to limit the risk of metastatic progression in cancer survivors who suffer from respiratory viral infections. We also plan to extend our analyzes. both on animal models and by exploring clinical data, other types of cancer and other metastase sites, notes Dr. Degregori.
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