Tengrinews.kz - A new study has found that COVID may be linked to cancer regression. The earlier study was only conducted on animals, but scientists say it "offers hope." This was reported by Fox News, citing the scientists' research.
COVID-19 can cause a long list of health problems, including flu-like symptoms, acute respiratory infections, and even organ damage. However, scientists suggest that the virus may have a surprising effect on cancer. A study published by Journal of Clinical Investigation found that COVID-19 infection is associated with cancer regression, which could serve as the basis for new cancer treatments in the future.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID is made up of ribonucleic acid (RNA), a molecule found in all living cells. The study found that RNA "trigger the development of a unique type of immune cell with anti-cancer properties," according to a press release from the Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute in Chicago.
The researchers found that the newly created immune cells can infiltrate blood vessels and tumors, which normal immune cells cannot.
"These killer cells then swarm the tumor and start attacking the cancer cells directly, helping to shrink the tumor," said senior study author Ankit Bharat.
The discovery has only been conducted in animal models so far, but the authors note the potential for the study to be effective against melanoma, lung cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer.
"We are in the early stages, but the potential to transform cancer treatment is there. Our next steps will involve clinical trials to see if we can safely and effectively use these findings to help cancer patients," said Dr. Bharat.
Fox News senior medical analyst Marc Siegel noted that while this is "not a cancer cure," the study has some significance. Viruses cause inflammation by activating the immune system, he said, which can "either increase your risk of certain cancers" or, conversely, "cause certain cancers to shrink by activating immune cells against them." The scientists hope that with further research they will be able to develop therapies that specifically target these specific immune cells to treat cancers that are currently difficult to treat. This could lead to new treatment options for patients who have exhausted all other options.
Earlier, researchers from the Health Science Center at Xi'an Jiaotong University have discovered that consuming instant coffee might influence the length of telomeres - key sections of DNA that serve as biomarkers of aging.
Author - Nuray Kapen
