Background: The COVID-19 pandemic, triggered by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has posed significant global health challenges, notably affecting individuals with pre-existing conditions like cancer. This review aims to provide an overview of current evidence regarding the bidirectional relationship between COVID-19 and cancer, focusing on potential mechanisms driving this association.
Search Strategy: A systematic search of the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases was conducted to identify studies published between January 2020 and March 2024. Articles were selected based on their relevance to the topic and adherence to rigorous methodological standards.
Results: Research indicates a complex interaction between COVID-19 and cancer, with clinical data highlighting variations in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment efficacy during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Mechanistic studies suggest that immune system dysregulation, chronic inflammation, and possible viral-induced cellular changes may contribute to cancer progression. Additionally, the pandemic has disrupted cancer care, causing delays in diagnosis and treatment, exacerbating existing healthcare disparities, and negatively affecting patient outcomes.
Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 impacts cancer progression through a combination of direct and indirect mechanisms. Future studies should focus on identifying vulnerable cancer patient populations, clarifying molecular pathways connecting COVID-19 and cancer progression, and developing tailored therapeutic approaches to mitigate these risks.
