Northwestern MedicineNew Research Sheds Light on a Surprising Connection Between COVID-19 and Cancer Regression

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Northwestern Medicine researchers have identified a novel connection between COVID-19 infection and cancer regression through the activation of specific immune cells. The study, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 RNA triggers the development of inducible nonclassical monocytes (I-NCMs) that exhibit anti-cancer properties, particularly against melanoma, lung, breast, and colon cancers in preclinical models.

Key Points:

• I-NCMs possess unique dual functionality: they can patrol blood vessels and penetrate tumor environments through the CCR2 receptor, enabling direct access to cancer sites
• These specialized immune cells recruit natural killer cells to attack cancer cells, potentially offering a new approach for treating therapy-resistant cancers
• The research team successfully stimulated I-NCM production using small molecules in both human tissues and animal models, suggesting potential therapeutic applications
• This discovery may benefit the DREAM Program at Northwestern Medicine, where double-lung transplant patients with advanced lung cancers could receive treatment without risking organ rejection
• Initial effectiveness has been demonstrated in preclinical animal models against four cancer types: melanoma, lung, breast, and colon cancer

“What makes these cells so special is their dual capability.”
– Ankit Bharat, MD, Chief of Thoracic Surgery, the Harold L. and Margaret N. Method Professor of Surgery and director of the Canning Thoracic Institute

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