Researchers at Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute have made a surprising discovery: the virus responsible for COVID-19 can trigger the development of immune cells that attack and destroy cancerous tissue. Published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the findings suggest a potential new avenue for cancer treatment using the same virus that caused a global pandemic.
Inducible Nonclassical Monocytes (I-NCMs)
The research team found that RNA molecules from the SARS-CoV-2 virus create specialized immune cells called "inducible nonclassical monocytes" or I-NCMs. These cells have shown promise in treating cancers resistant to current therapies. Dr. Ankit Bharat, chief of thoracic surgery at Northwestern University, noted, "It's incredible, and a big surprise, that the same infection that caused so much devastation can help create a cancer-fighting cell."
Mechanism of Action
I-NCMs retain a unique receptor called CCR2, which allows them to infiltrate tumors directly. Once inside the tumor environment, these cells release chemicals that recruit the body's natural killer cells. These killer cells then swarm the tumor and begin attacking cancer cells, helping to shrink the cancerous tissue. "We found that the same cells activated by severe Covid-19 could be induced with a drug to fight cancer, and we specifically saw a response with melanoma, lung, breast and colon cancer in the study," explained Dr. Bharat.
Preclinical Results
In preliminary tests using animal models, the compound reduced tumors by 60% to 70%. The research specifically demonstrated effectiveness against several major types of cancer, including melanoma, lung cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer.
Future Directions
Researchers emphasize that this research is still in its early stages, with effectiveness only studied in animal models. The next crucial step will be conducting clinical trials to test if these findings can safely help cancer patients. More research is necessary before the treatment could be used in clinical settings, with trials likely years away. What makes this discovery particularly unique is that only Covid's RNA virus has shown this tumor-fighting capability. Other RNA viruses, such as the flu, do not trigger the same cancer-fighting immune response. The findings could potentially create a new path forward for cancer patients who have exhausted traditional treatment methods, offering hope where conventional therapies have failed.
