Ahmad R Mafi
1* , Ali Ghanbari Motlagh
1 , Payam Azadeh
1 1 Radiation Oncology Department, Imam Hossein Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
*Corresponding Author: Corresponding Author: Ahmad Reza Mafi, MD, MSc; Radiation Oncology Department, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Email: , Email:
ahmadrmafi@yahoo.com
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) continues to be a worldwide healthcare problem. While our knowledge of the interaction of cancer and its management with COVID-19 mortality is gradually evolving, there are still many unanswered questions regarding the impact of COVID-19 on cancer and its prognosis. Several factors activated during COVID-19 have been implicated in tumorigenesis and the development of metastasis. Inflammation, hypoxia, reduced levels of angiotensin converting enzyme 2, elevated levels of Interleukin 6 and some other cytokines that are hallmarks of COVID-19 are capable of inducing tumor relapse and metastasis. On the other hand, there are reports that COVID-19 has been associated with cancer cure. Understanding the interaction between COVID-19 and tumor cells is essential for evaluating the potential long-term risks of COVID-19 in cancer patients, and for scheduling necessary preventive and therapeutic interventions. In this review, we briefly overview the potential impacts that COVID-19 might have on tumorigenesis and cancer relapse, as well as the role that COVID-19 might play in cancer remission and cure.