Lung-Based Resurgence of Dormant Breast Cancer Cells Spurred by Respiratory Viruses

In a groundbreaking study published in Nature on July 30, 2025, a research group led by Dr. Julio Aguirre-Ghiso has uncovered a significant link between common respiratory infections like COVID-19 and influenza, and the potential reactivation of dormant breast cancer cells in the lungs. This finding could have profound implications for cancer care and prevention strategies.

The study, which involved leading experts in oncology, immunology, molecular biology, and epidemiology from institutions across the United States and Europe, underscores the need for a holistic perspective encompassing infectious diseases, immunology, and oncology to devise comprehensive patient management strategies.

The research, conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Utrecht University, reveals that common respiratory infections can "awaken" dormant breast cancer cells residing in the lungs via IL-6 mediated inflammatory pathways. The inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a critical role in this viral-induced reawakening of dormant cancer cells.

Among cancer survivors who had been in remission for at least five years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, those who contracted COVID-19 demonstrated nearly double the risk of cancer-related mortality compared with matched controls who did not become infected. A second population study found that female breast cancer patients who contracted COVID-19 exhibited a 50% higher likelihood of developing lung metastases over an approximate 52-month follow-up period compared to those without COVID-19 infection.

The study addresses the gap in understanding the triggers that cause dormant cancer cells to awaken and proliferate, leading to lethal metastatic disease. The Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Research Program at MECCC is investigating the interplay between immune responses, extracellular matrix factors, and cytokine networks to develop robust mechanistic models.

The findings highlight the urgent need for integrated preventive and therapeutic approaches to address this emerging challenge in cancer care. The study suggests actionable pathways for intervention and therapeutic development, including targeting IL-6 signaling with established inhibitors to prevent or reduce metastatic relapses triggered by such viral infections.

The research could revolutionize metastasis prevention strategies, which are critical given that metastatic disease remains the primary cause of cancer mortality. The study also emphasizes the need for heightened vigilance and preventive measures within oncology practice, including proactive vaccination strategies against common respiratory viruses and prompt clinical monitoring following respiratory infections.

In an era increasingly aware of the interconnections between different facets of human health, this research underscores the importance of a comprehensive and collaborative approach to healthcare. The research published in Nature on July 30, 2025, provides compelling evidence that cancer survivors face elevated risks after respiratory viral infections, and the need for integrated preventive and therapeutic approaches to address this emerging challenge in cancer care is more pressing than ever.

Lung-Based Resurgence of Dormant Breast Cancer Cells Spurred by Respiratory Viruses