COVID-19 exposure may promote cancer growth. A new study hints that patients with cancer exposed to SARAS-CoV-2 infection experience a persistent increase in substances that may promote cancer growth. These substances include cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors for blood vessels.
These are the findings of a new study from Belgium. Researchers did a serial analysis of blood samples in individuals exposed to COVID-19 and for a control group of unexposed individuals.
The researchers examined patients with cancer scheduled for routine blood testing during the COVID-19 The researchers examined patients with cancer scheduled for routine blood testing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of these participants, 52 had exposure to SARS-CoV-2, and 54 were unexposed to the virus. In addition, the study included 15 exposed and 42 unexposed healthcare workers from the oncology units the patients visited.
Key findings:
Patients with cancer who had exposure to COVID-19 had persistent increases in substances that have historically been associated with cancer progression. Persistent increases in cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors may cause proliferation and survival of cancer cells and cancer spread (metastases).
Is the study perfect? No. The researchers acknowledge that it is not a prospective study of exposed patients with cancer. In addition, there appeared to be an imbalance between the baseline characteristics of patients with cancer and healthcare workers.
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