Respiratory infections may reactivate breast cancer cells
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A study published in Nature suggests that respiratory viral infections may stimulate dormant metastatic breast cancer cells in the lungs. The research is supported by evidence showing increased rates of metastatic lung disease and mortality among cancer survivors infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. These findings point to a possible connection between viral infections and cancer cell reactivation, highlighting an area for further investigation.
Source
Chia, S.B., Johnson, B.J., Hu, J. et al. Respiratory viral infections awaken metastatic breast cancer cells in lungs. Nature 645, 496–506 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09332-0
Additional Reading
https://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/respiratory-infections-waken-sleeping-cancer-cells
https://www.sciencealert.com/common-viruses-may-wake-dormant-breast-cancer-cells-study-finds