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| - Last Updated on December 19, 2024 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
A social media post claims that COVID can kill cancer. We did the fact check and termed this claim as mostly false.
The Claim
A Facebook post says that “Who would have thought that COVID could kill cancer?” This post implies that COVID-19 infection can actually kill cancer.
Fact Check
Can COVID-19 actually kill cancer?
No, COVID-19 cannot kill cancer. While there is some early research suggesting that the immune response triggered by COVID-19 might have some impact on cancer cells, however one cannot rely on this as the research is still in its early stages. The idea that COVID-19 can directly kill cancer cells is misleading, at least for now.
SARS-CoV-2 is a dangerous virus that causes COVID-19, an infection that harms the body in unpredictable ways. It would be unsafe to rely on this as a treatment option. The virus itself is not a cure for cancer, and any potential benefits are still being explored as a part of research.
We connected with Dr Pooja Khullar, Radiation Oncologist from Dharamshila Narayana Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi, for her expert views on the possibility of COVID-19 infection killing cancer. She says, “COVID-19 cannot kill cancer. However, the virus may trigger immune responses that could have an impact on cancer cells. The effects of COVID-19 on cancer are complex and unpredictable, and the virus can cause significant harm to the body, particularly in cancer patients who may already have compromised immune systems.”
We also spoke with Dr Almas Fatma, MBBS, Diploma in Family Medicine, PG in Digital Health, and General Physician from Navi Mumbai, to clarify the claim that COVID-19 can kill cancer. She says, “The idea that COVID-19 can kill cancer is misleading. While some studies suggest the virus might activate immune responses that interact with cancer cells, this is far from being a treatment. COVID-19 poses serious risks, especially to cancer patients, due to their weakened immunity. Cancer treatment requires evidence-based approaches, not speculative claims.”
Similarly, some social media posts also make claims like “bee venom can kill breast cancer cells in 30 minutes.” This, too, is in the early stages.
What does the 2024 study suggest?
The recent 2024 study by Northwestern University doesn’t make the direct claim that COVID-19 infection itself kills cancer cells. What it does show is that during infections like COVID-19, the body’s immune system can be activated in a way that might help fight cancer. Specifically, a type of immune cell called CCR2+ nonclassical monocytes becomes more active during inflammation (like in COVID-19 or organ transplant). These cells can travel to tumours and help shrink them by attracting other immune cells, like NK cells, which help kill cancer cells.
While COVID itself doesn’t directly fight cancer, the study highlights how inflammation caused by infections might trigger immune cells that could be useful in fighting cancer. This could lead to new treatments for cancers that are resistant to current therapies.
This immune response shares similarities with how immunotherapies work. Immunotherapies use the body’s immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. However, the immune response triggered by COVID-19 is uncontrolled and unpredictable, making it an unsafe method for cancer treatment.
Researchers are exploring whether this immune activation could be harnessed in a controlled way to develop new cancer therapies. However, we need much more research before drawing any conclusions, and this remains a promising area of study.
THIP Media Take
The idea that COVID-19 could help fight cancer is an interesting area of research. Because some immune cells activated by the virus might target cancer cells. However, this is still very early in the study process. The claim that COVID-19 can “kill cancer” is misleading and not supported by evidence. The virus is not a safe or reliable cancer treatment, and its effects on the body are unpredictable. New therapies based on these findings may be possible in the future. But COVID-19 itself should never be used as a cancer treatment. So, the claim made by the particular Facebook post is mostly false.
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