Sat Nov 23 11:49:37 UTC 2024: ## COVID’s Unexpected Anti-Cancer Effect: Mouse Study Reveals Potential New Treatment

**Cambridge, UK** – A groundbreaking study published in the *Journal of Clinical Investigation* suggests that severe COVID-19 infection may unexpectedly shrink cancer tumors in mice. Researchers at Northwestern University found that severe COVID-19 triggers the production of unique monocytes – a type of white blood cell – with potent anti-cancer properties. These monocytes, unlike those often coopted by tumors, actively target and destroy cancer cells, shrinking tumors in mice with advanced melanoma, lung, breast, and colon cancers.

The mechanism involves a specific receptor on these induced monocytes that binds to a sequence of COVID-19 RNA, likened by researchers to a “lock and key” interaction. This triggers the activation of natural killer cells, which then attack the cancer cells. Importantly, this process doesn’t rely on T cells, a key limitation of many current immunotherapies, which are only effective in 20-40% of cases.

Professor Justin Stebbing of Anglia Ruskin University, commenting on the research, highlighted the potential significance of this discovery. The study demonstrates a novel approach to cancer treatment, independent of T-cell immunity, potentially offering hope for patients who don’t respond to traditional immunotherapy. The research also illustrates the concept of “trained immunity,” where the immune system, trained to fight one threat (COVID-19), becomes more effective against another (cancer).

While the study was conducted in mice and requires further human trials, it opens avenues for developing drugs or vaccines that stimulate the production of these cancer-fighting monocytes. Professor Stebbing stressed that this does not mean people should seek COVID-19 infection to treat cancer; severe COVID-19 is dangerous and carries significant long-term health risks. Instead, this research provides valuable insights that could lead to the development of safer and more effective cancer treatments. The findings underscore the importance of basic scientific research and its potential for unexpected medical breakthroughs.

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