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Tipton, KS | Respiratory viruses may trigger dormant cancers
Cancer cells can break away from their original tumors and travel to different parts of the body. These disseminated cancer cells (DCCs) can then grow into new tumors. This process is called metastasis. DCCs can stay dormant for years or decades before awakening and developing into tumors, even long after the original tumor is removed. What causes the cells to awaken has been unknown.
Studies have shown that cancer metastasis can be triggered by inflammation. Infection by respiratory viruses, such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2, often causes inflammation. A research team led by Dr. James DeGregori at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus set out to test whether respiratory virus infections might cause DCCs to awaken. To do this, they used mouse models of breast cancer to study the effects of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infection on DCCs and metastasis in the lungs. The study appeared in Nature on July 30, 2025.
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/respiratory-vir...
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4. Protective Role of Vaccination
Fortunately, data suggests that the risks associated with flu-induced
cancer can be mitigated.
Prevention of Severe Damage: Vaccination significantly reduces the
likelihood of the severe inflammatory response that triggers these
long-term risks. UVA Health researchers found that vaccination appears
to prevent the specific "dangerous lung changes" that lead to
increased cancer risk.
Potential as Immunotherapy: Some studies even suggest that seasonal
flu vaccines can be used in cancer immunotherapy, where intratumoral
injections of the vaccine promote a systemic immune response that
helps fight existing tumors.
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Respiratory viruses may trigger dormant cancers
