Table of Contents
Find out how Covid-19 could attack cancerous tumors: a new study reveals a surprising facet of the virus.
Tl;dr
- Study finds Covid-19 can shrink cancerous tumors.
- The presence of SARS-CoV-2 modifies the action of monocytes, making the fight against cancer more effective.
- The results could lead to new cancer treatments.
Covid-19: a new ally against cancer?
The number one public adversary of the year 2020, Covid-19could prove to be an unexpected ally in the fight against cancer. A recent study demonstrated the ability of the virus to reduce the size of cancerous tumors. This discovery could pave the way for new anti-cancer treatments.
An unexpected discovery
This research, conducted at the Canning Thoracic Institute at Northwestern Medicine, observed that some cancer patients who were seriously ill with Covid-19 saw their tumors shrink or their growth slowed. Dr. Ankit Bharat, chief of thoracic surgery at Northwestern University, explains: “We didn’t know if it was real because these patients were very sick. » To understand this phenomenon, a study was launched.
The determining role of SARS-CoV-2 on monocytes
Dr. Bharat’s team discovered that the presence of SARS-CoV-2 changed the behavior of monocytes, immune cells that alert the rest of the immune system when foreign cells are detected. However, cancer cells sometimes manage to “deceive” these monocytes and use them to protect themselves from the immune system. In the presence of SARS-CoV-2, this protective effect is modified, potentially allowing the immune system to detect and fight cancer more effectively.
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Prospects for a new cancer treatment
Researchers also discovered that Covid-19 RNA triggers the formation of a unique immune cell capable of fighting cancer. According to Dr Bharat, this discovery offers a promising prospect for the development of treatments mimicking this cell formation, which could be used to treat certain common cancers such as melanoma, lung, breast and colon cancer. “It’s incredible, and a big surprise, that the same infection that has caused so much devastation can help create a cell that fights cancer”marvels Dr Bharat.
However, any treatment resulting from these findings would not replace existing immunotherapy, but would be used as a complement or as a secondary option in the event of immunotherapy failure.
As researchers hope to begin a clinical trial for the treatment of cancer patients, Dr. Bharat concludes: “We are in the early stages, but the potential to transform cancer treatment is there. »
How does your background and experience shape your perspective on the intersection of Covid-19 and cancer research?
1. Introduction: Can you tell us about yourself and your role in the field of cancer research?
2. Findings of the study: What did the researchers discover about the potential of Covid-19 to attack cancerous tumors? How did the presence of SARS-CoV-2 modify the action of monocytes, and what do these changes mean for the fight against cancer?
3. Significance of the results: In what ways could this discovery lead to new cancer treatments? What types of cancers might benefit from such treatments, and what are the limitations or challenges that need to be addressed?
4. Next steps: What are the next steps in the research process, and when do you expect clinical trials to begin? How might the findings of this study inform broader discussions about cancer treatment and the role of the immune system in fighting disease?
