An early-stage study suggests that some common viral infections may have a protective role against the spread of cancer in the body.
Researchers from Imperial College London have discovered that the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), known to cause coughs and colds, may help reduce the spread of breast cancer to the lungs.
According to Ilaria Malanchi from the Francis Crick Institute, the spread of breast cancer to other organs, especially the lungs, makes the disease much more difficult to treat. The lungs are one of the most common areas where this type of cancer metastasizes.
The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that in experimental models (mice), previous infection with RSV activated the immune system, especially in the lungs. As a result, these subjects developed fewer lung tumors compared to those who had not had such an infection.
Experts believe that prior infection may "prime" the lungs, making them more resistant to the establishment and growth of cancer cells.
However, the researchers emphasize that the infection itself cannot be used as a treatment. Instead, the goal is to develop drugs that mimic the protective effect observed.
According to Cecilia Johansson from the National Heart and Lung Institute in London, these findings pave the way for further research in humans, with the aim of developing new therapies that could prevent the spread of cancer. /GazetaExpress/
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