Early data on severe Covid-19 infections suggest that, while unexpected, the virus may provide new and necessary possibilities concerning treatment-resistant cancers. 

A research team from Northwestern Medicine used mice in their experiments and found that the RNA present in the virus SARS-Cov-2, the one responsible for Covid-19, led to the development of a particular type of immune cell known as “inducible nonclassical monocytes,” which happens to have anticancer properties. 

Inducible nonclassical monocytes, or I-NCMs were found to target and combat cancer cells. If these I-NCMs can be harnessed, it has the potential to revolutionize the way we approach treatment resistant cancers;saving the lives of millions.

When a cancer patient comes down with Covid-19, ordinary monocytes (white blood cells), receive a signal from that RNA which causes them to become I-NCMs. The newly formed I-NCMs now have an advantage over other immune cells, as they are now capable of moving into the blood vessels and tissue around the tumor while the run-of-the-mill immune cell can not.

The study practiced primarily with preclinical animal models, but also worked with human tissue as well. Melanoma, breast, colon, and lung cancer were most responsive during the study.  Mice with various types of stage four cancer were given a drug which would mimic the immune response to Covid-19. Each mouse saw a degree of regression of their tumor(s).

While this research is proving to be quite promising, it is important to remember that it is still in its early stages and nothing is certain. As always, proper precautions should be taken where immunocompromised people are concerned. While there have been a rise in human patients who have also observed significant shrinkage of their tumors following exposure to Covid-19, there are also many patients with the opposite experience where it has caused them more harm than good with symptoms including: sleep disturbances, myalgia, and gastrointestinal complications.