Respiratory Infections Awaken Dormant Breast Cancer Cells

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Utrecht University have found that common respiratory infections, including COVID-19 and influenza, can awaken dormant breast cancer cells in the lungs. This discovery was made by analyzing mouse models and two population studies, which showed that respiratory infections can trigger the awakening of dormant cancer cells, leading to a massive expansion of metastatic cells and the appearance of metastatic lesions.

Key Takeaways:

  • Researchers used mouse models to demonstrate that respiratory infections triggered the awakening of dormant breast cancer cells in the lungs, leading to a massive expansion of metastatic cells and the appearance of metastatic lesions.
  • The study identified interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a key mediator in arousing dormant cancer cells from dormancy, suggesting that using IL-6 inhibitors or other targeted immunotherapies might prevent or lessen the resurgence of metastasis following viral infection.
  • Two population studies, including a UK Biobank study and a US Flatiron Health database study, found that cancer patients who contracted COVID-19 faced an increased risk of cancer-related mortality, with some experiencing a nearly doubling of risk of dying from cancer.
  • Population studies found that cancer patients who contracted COVID-19 were more likely to experience metastatic progression to the lungs, with one study showing a 50% increased risk of metastatic progression compared to COVID-19-negative patients.
  • Researchers believe that understanding the underlying mechanisms of how respiratory infections awaken dormant cancer cells could lead to the development of interventions that limit the risk of metastatic progression in cancer survivors.

Statistics:

  • 487 individuals with cancer tested positive for COVID-19 in the UK Biobank study, and these patients faced an almost doubling of risk of dying from cancer compared to COVID-19-negative patients.
  • During the follow-up period of 52 months, patients with COVID-19 were approximately 50% more likely to experience metastatic progression to the lungs compared with patients with breast cancer without a diagnosis of COVID-19.
  • The study found that the effect of COVID-19 infection on cancer-related mortality was most pronounced in the first year after infection.
  • Researchers identified interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a key mediator in arousing dormant cancer cells from dormancy, with IL-6 levels increasing by up to 50% after exposure to respiratory viruses.

Sources:

  • Montefiore Einstein
  • Nature (study titled "Respiratory viral infections awaken metastatic breast cancer cells in lungs")
  • UK Biobank
  • U.S. Flatiron Health database