However,
Respiratory viruses can wake up:
In a recent study. Similarly, it is reported that, in survivors of breast cancer, pulmonary infections due to influenza and COVID-19 viruses can promote the appearance of metastases by awakening residual cancer cells that have survived treatments.
One of the most formidable properties of cancer is its ability to survive current treatments. In addition, whether chemotherapy, radiotherapy or more targeted therapies.
Even if these treatments most of the time manage to eliminate almost all cancer cells. Similarly, the fact remains that a tiny proportion of them can develop resistance and remain in the body in a dormant, undetectable and appearance form, but which nevertheless remains very dangerous.
These cells have indeed preserved the characteristics which had enabled the initial tumor to invade a region of the body. In addition, can form metastases which are now resistant to anti -cancer treatments.
Moreover. respiratory viruses can wake up Consequently, the majority of patients affected by cancer do not die from the initial tumor (especially when it is located in a fabric that is not essential to survival, such as skin or breast), but rather metastases that develop in essential organs such as lungs, liver or brain.
Mammary dormant tumors – Respiratory viruses can wake up
This problem posed by residual cancer cells is particularly striking in the case of breast cancers. Patients who have been treated for this type of cancer can be in remission for a very long period (sometimes more than 10 years). which can give the impression of a complete healing, and then see the tumor suddenly reappear in the form of aggressive metastases that threaten their lives.
According to a recent study. one of the factors responsible for this risk of metastases in the survivors of breast cancer could bring in respiratory viruses like those responsible for COVVI-19 and influenza respiratory viruses can wake up (1).
Researchers first examined if respiratory viruses could influence the survival rate of people affected by cancer in general. The COVVI-19 pandemic offers a golden opportunity to study this phenomenon. because, unlike flu, data on viral infections were systematically collected during the first years of the pandemic.
By examining the mortality rates of cancer survivors participating in the UK Biobank. which had been diagnosed at least five years before the COVVI-19 pandemic, the team found that those whose test was positive presented almost twice as high to die from cancer as patients with cancer whose test was negative. The results are even more striking when the analysis is restricted to the initial period of the pandemic (December 2020 to January 2022). with a risk of mortality by cancer 8 times higher in patients infected with the virus.
A similar phenomenon is observed in breast cancer survivors: an analysis of 36. respiratory viruses can wake up 845 women affected by the disease indicates that those affected by COVID-19 after their initial cancer diagnosis had an increased risk of around 40% compared to non-infected women.
Inflammation virale
The researchers observed in the laboratory that. in mice with latent breast cancer cells in the lungs, infection with the COVVI-19 virus or influenza had caused a spectacular (up to 1000 times) and very rapid increase in the number of cancer cells, with the appearance of metastases barely two weeks after infection.
The awakening of these dormant cells was induced by interleukin -6 (IL -6). an inflammatory protein released by immune cells, which strongly suggests that it is the strong inflammation caused by viral infection which is the great manager of this awakening of sleeping cancer cells.
For people with a history of cancer. in particular breast cancer, vaccination against respiratory viruses, whether it be flu, COVID-19 or syncytial respiratory respiratory viruses can wake up virus, therefore seems a valid strategy to reduce the risk of recurrence of the disease.
(1) Chia SB et coll. «Respiratory viral infections awaken metastatic breast cancer cells in lungs». Naturepublished on July 30, 2025.
Further reading: New Kaftrio and Kalydeco specialties adapted to the child from 2 to 6 years old – Suicide: some distress signals escape parents or teachers – ADHD: rise of psychostimulants in France, between catch -up and prudence: news – Launch of the national FCO vaccination campaign – Colmar. Sad experience in diaconate for a 98 year old lady.