Ongoing research suggests that COVID-19 may increase cancer risks by causing long-term harm to the body. Having a history of cancer may also increase your risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19. The virus disrupts key systems that regulate inflammation and cell growth, creating an environment where cancer is more likely to develop. It can also set off powerful immune reactions—called cytokine storms—that lead to chronic inflammation, a known contributor to cancer. Some of the virus’s proteins could even interfere with the body’s ability to stop damaged cells from becoming cancerous. While COVID-19 doesn’t directly trigger mutations, it can encourage cancer growth by weakening immune defenses, disturbing normal cell function, and sustaining conditions that help tumors grow. Read the current studies and articles on this topic below.
* Indicates peer-reviewed studies
* Linking COVID-19 and Cancer: Underlying Mechanism BBA, Molecular Basis of Disease Volume 8871, Issue 1. Tyagi, S, Tyagi, N, Singh, A, et al. January 2025
* SARS-CoV-2 Infection as a Potential Risk Factor for the Development of Cancer Frontiers in Molecular Bioscience PMC10518417. Ogarek, N, Oboza, P,et al. September 11, 2023.
* Possible Cancer-causing Capacity of COVID-19: Is SARS-CoV-2 an Oncogenic Agent? Biochimie, PMC10202899. Jahankhani K, Ahangari F, Adcock IM, et al. May 23, 2023.
* Cancer and Covid-19: Collectively Catastrophic Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. du Plessis M, Fourie C, Riedemann J, et al. October 23, 2021
* Causal Effects of COVID-19 on Cancer Risk: A Mendelian Randomization Study Journal of Medical Virology. Volume 95, Issue 4. Li, J, Bai, H, et al. April 16, 2023
* Evaluation of COVID-19 Mortality and Adverse Outcomes in US Patients With or Without Cancer Volume 8, No 1. Chavez-MacGregor, M., Lei, X, et al. October 28, 2021.
Does COVID-19 Cause Cancer or Help Fight It? Reviewing the Emerging Evidence. Cancer Therapy Advisor. Tori Rodriguez, MA, LPC, AHC. March 11, 2025.
Could Sars-CoV-2 be an Oncogenic Agent and Cancer Initiator? A Conversation with Afshin Behesthi, PhD. The Asco Post. Jo Cavallo. December 10, 2024.
COVID-19. What People with Cancer Should Know. NIH National Cancer Institute. April 10, 2024.