A new study, published on medRxiv, yet to be peer-reviewed, has revealed that cancer patients exposed to SARS-CoV-2 have persistent rise in cytokines, chemokines and (angiogenic) growth factors (CCGs), more than those observed in unexposed patients.

Patients with cancer undergoing routine blood testing during the COVID-19 pandemic, including 52 exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and 54 unexposed patients, were assessed along with 15 exposed and 42 unexposed healthcare workers from the oncology units. Unexposed cancer patients had raised levels of 35 CCGs in comparison with unexposed healthcare workers, with no significant differences noted between patients with solid and hematologic cancers. Exposed cancer patients had seven CCGs that were additionally significantly altered in comparison with healthcare workers. In a longitudinal analysis over 3 months, it was noted that CCGs including TNF-alpha, IL-2, and MCP-3 continued to remain raised in exposed cancer patients, but not in healthcare workers… (Medscape)