A new study suggests that the COVID-19 virus may target and destroy cancer cells, potentially shrinking tumors.

A new study suggests that COVID-19 could have a surprising impact on cancer, according to medical experts.

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation on Friday revealed that COVID infection is linked to cancer regression, which could pave the way for new cancer treatments in the future.

The virus responsible for COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, consists of RNA, a molecule present in all living cells.

A press release from the Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute in Chicago stated that RNA was discovered to "induce the formation of a distinctive immune cell with anti-cancer properties" in a research study.

Typical immune cells are unable to move into blood vessels and tumors, but newly created immune cells can do so.

The cancer cells are directly attacked by the killer cells, which then help to shrink the tumor, as stated by senior author Ankit Bharat, MD, chief of thoracic surgery at Northwestern Medicine, in the release.

The researchers discovered that the severe COVID-19 effect was particularly effective against melanoma, lung cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer.

A new avenue for cancer treatment has been discovered, according to Bharat, as stated in the release.

"This approach may provide hope for patients with advanced cancers who have not responded to other treatments."

Early findings warrant more research

This finding has so far only been seen in animal models.

Bharat stated in the release that we are in the early stages, but the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment exists.

"We will conduct clinical trials to determine if our findings can safely and effectively aid cancer patients."

"The presumed mechanism is that a major inflammation event like an infection can tip the scales toward activating the immune system against a cancer."

The study, although not a cancer cure and only observed in mice, has some significance, according to Dr. Marc Siegel, a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and senior medical analyst for Planet Chronicle.

According to Siegel, who was not part of the study, viruses trigger inflammation and boost the immune system, which can increase the risk of certain cancers or, ironically, shrink certain cancers by activating immune cells against them.

Centivax CEO Dr. Jacob Glanville, based in San Francisco, stated that he was not surprised by the study findings, despite not being involved in the research.

Doctors have identified a history of "spontaneous regression" following high fever infections in various illnesses, including cancer, dating back to the time when doctors have been diagnosing cancer.

Glanville explained that while the immune system is typically able to detect abnormal tissue, cancer cells can undergo mutations that prevent the immune system from attacking them.

"An infection can trigger the immune system to fight cancer."

He stated that while COVID-19 vaccines may have the same effect, it's more likely for an actual infection to cause this due to the immune system being more "stimulated" by the infection.

Glanville stated that the rate of this happening is not high enough to consider it a reliable therapy.

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The research was supported by both the National Institutes of Health and the Canning Thoracic Institute.

Planet Chronicle Digital reached out to the researchers for additional comment.