Scientists from Finland Warn That SARS-CoV-2 May Trigger Cancer in a Manner Similar to Other Oncogenic Viruses
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Apr 17, 2025 2 days, 3 hours, 24 minutes ago
Medical News: In a thought-provoking new paper from Finland’s prestigious Turku PET Centre at the University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, researcher Dr. Thorsten Rudroff is sounding the alarm about a potentially dangerous long-term effect of COVID-19—its role in triggering cancer. By comparing the behavior of SARS-CoV-2 with well-known cancer-causing viruses, the study reveals shocking similarities that suggest the novel coronavirus may be laying the groundwork for cancer development in some infected individuals.
Scientists from Finland Warn That SARS-CoV-2 May Trigger Cancer in a Manner Similar to Other Oncogenic Viruses
This
Medical News report dives deep into the findings, presenting them in an easy-to-understand way for the general public while highlighting the urgent need for more research, better monitoring of COVID-19 survivors, and new AI-based technologies to track and predict virus-linked cancers.
Cancer and Viruses a Dangerous Link
It is already known that about 15–20% of all human cancers are caused by viruses. Classic examples include the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer, and hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV/HCV), known to trigger liver cancer. These viruses work by hijacking key cellular systems—disrupting the cell cycle, evading the immune system, fueling inflammation, and rewiring cellular metabolism.
Now, emerging data suggests that SARS-CoV-2—the virus responsible for COVID-19—may be doing something very similar. What makes this alarming is that unlike HPV or hepatitis viruses, SARS-CoV-2 was not previously considered an oncogenic (cancer-causing) virus. But as we uncover more about its long-term effects, especially in those suffering from long COVID, scientists are beginning to connect the dots.
The Key Mechanisms SARS-CoV-2 Shares With Cancer Causing Viruses
Dr. Rudroff’s study identifies four main pathways by which viruses contribute to cancer—and shows that SARS-CoV-2 taps into each of these, sometimes subtly, sometimes quite aggressively:
-Disruption of the Cell Cycle
Viruses often target critical tumor suppressor proteins like p53 and pRb, which normally act like brakes on uncontrolled cell growth. HPV, for example, disables these protective proteins using viral tools like E6 and E7. Similarly, SARS-CoV-2 proteins have been found to interfere with p53 pathways, potentially decreasing the body’s ability to kill off damaged or pre-cancerous cells.
-Chronic Inflammation
Persistent inflammation is a well-known trigger for cancer. Hepatitis viruses do this in the liver, and now SARS-CoV-2 is showing similar behavior—especially in long COVID patients who remain inflamed long after their infection ends. Chronic inflammation generates damaging molecules that can harm DNA and promote cancerous changes.
gt;-Immune System Evasion
Many cancer-causing viruses escape detection by the immune system by lowering the visibility of infected cells. SARS-CoV-2 uses several proteins—like ORF6 and nsp1—to sabotage the host’s interferon and antiviral responses. These tricks mirror the stealth tactics used by viruses like Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV).
-Metabolic Reprogramming
Cancer cells consume energy differently. They often shift to a high-sugar, low-oxygen mode of survival called the Warburg effect. Oncogenic viruses encourage this shift. Recent PET/FDG brain scans in long COVID patients show altered metabolism in brain regions, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 may be rewiring metabolism in ways that resemble early cancerous transformation.
The Role of AI in Detecting Hidden Cancer Triggers
One exciting part of the study is its focus on artificial intelligence (AI). Dr. Rudroff highlights how advanced machine learning tools are being used to detect early cancer changes caused by viruses—even before symptoms appear. AI can analyze patterns in molecular data, protein interactions, neuroimaging, and immune system signals that would be too complex for humans to interpret alone.
These tools have already proven successful in identifying cancer risks from known viruses like HPV. Now, they’re being applied to COVID-19 datasets to see if similar warning signs can be detected early—giving doctors a chance to intervene before a potential tumor develops.
Long COVID Patients May Be Most at Risk
One of the most concerning aspects of this new research is the focus on long COVID sufferers. These are individuals who experience symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, or shortness of breath months after recovering from the initial infection.
Studies cited in the paper show that even after the virus is no longer detectable, long COVID patients show ongoing inflammation, immune system disruption, and abnormal energy metabolism—especially in the brain. PET scans have revealed reduced glucose metabolism in frontal brain areas, a sign often associated with chronic illness and, in some cases, early cancer changes.
How SARS-CoV-2 Proteins Mimic Cancer Causing Viruses
The paper describes how certain SARS-CoV-2 proteins behave eerily like those of other oncogenic viruses:
-The NSP3 protein of SARS-CoV-2 shows a 76% similarity with a SARS-CoV-1 protein known to degrade p53, a tumor-suppressing protein.
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Another protein, NSP2, interacts with enzymes that impair p53’s ability to protect cells, potentially leading to unchecked cell growth.
-SARS-CoV-2 also manipulates proteins like cyclin D1, key to cell cycle control, and causes them to degrade—another move that mimics cancer viruses.
These interactions are subtle, but they create a perfect storm of inflammation, poor immune surveillance, DNA damage, and metabolic chaos—ideal conditions for cancer to take hold.
What Does This Mean for the Future
While SARS-CoV-2 has not yet been officially classified as a cancer-causing virus, these findings raise serious concerns. The virus may not directly cause cancer like HPV does, but it may set the stage for cancer to develop years after infection, particularly in people with long COVID or those with repeated exposures.
That’s why the study calls for:
-Long-term monitoring of COVID-19 survivors—especially those with persistent symptoms
-Regular PET/FDG imaging and blood testing to detect early signs of metabolic or immune dysfunction
-Integration of AI tools into clinical practice for early detection and personalized risk assessments
-Global databases to track long-term cancer outcomes in COVID-19 survivors
Conclusions
Although COVID-19 is commonly perceived as an acute respiratory disease, its long-term effects may prove to be far more insidious. Dr. Rudroff’s study presents strong evidence that SARS-CoV-2 could be a contributing factor in future cancer development due to its ability to mimic several mechanisms used by traditional oncogenic viruses. These mechanisms include disruption of tumor-suppressor proteins, induction of chronic inflammation, metabolic rewiring, and immune system evasion. Importantly, these alterations appear to persist even after the acute infection resolves, especially in individuals suffering from long COVID. With millions worldwide still affected by long COVID, the potential implications for global cancer rates in the coming years are deeply concerning. This underscores the urgent need for ongoing surveillance, interdisciplinary research, and the deployment of AI-driven diagnostic tools to monitor and mitigate long-term oncogenic risks. The future of viral oncology may very well be shaped by our response to SARS-CoV-2 today.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Infectious Disease Reports
https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7449/17/2/33
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-infections-are-possibly-increasing-the-risk-of-anal-cancer
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/cancer
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