People who suffered severe COVID-19 or flu had their lungs examined…terrifying ‘danger’ confirmed
Severe COVID-19 or influenza infections alter the lung’s immune environment, increasing the risk of subsequent lung cancer development, according to new research. Vaccination was found to substantially block these changes.
The study, led by researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center, was published Monday in the international life sciences journal Cell.
Researchers confirmed that severe viral lung infections reprogram lung immune cells, creating an environment conducive to tumor growth over months to years.
Analysis combining animal experiments and human patient data showed that mice with severe lung infections had higher subsequent lung cancer rates and faster tumor growth. Human data revealed the same pattern. Analysis of the Epic Cosmos database, which includes approximately 900,000 hospitalized severe COVID-19 patients, found that those who experienced severe COVID-19 had approximately 24% higher lung cancer diagnosis rates over the following four years. Results were consistent regardless of smoking status or comorbidities.
Researchers explained that immune cells—neutrophils and macrophages—form a “tumor-friendly” environment with persistent post-infection inflammation that promotes cancer growth. Significant changes were also observed in epithelial cells lining the lungs and in alveoli. In contrast, patients with mild infections showed no increased cancer risk; some even showed a slight decrease in lung cancer risk.
“Severe COVID-19 or flu can leave the lungs in a prolonged inflammatory state, creating an environment where cancer cells can thrive,” said Jie Sun, professor at UVA School of Medicine, who led the research. “Fortunately, vaccination was shown to substantially prevent these cancer-promoting lung changes.”
Researchers recommended that individuals with severe respiratory virus infection history be managed similarly to high-risk lung cancer patients with smoking history, with regular low-dose chest CT scans for early detection.
