The Sars-Cov-2 virus has molecules similar to tumor ones. People who have been vaccinated or have contracted the Coronavirus infection show a cross-immune response: exposure to virus antigens could represent a “preventive vaccination” for cancers, especially of the breast, liver, colon and melanoma. This is demonstrated, for the first time, by an all-Italian study, conducted by the Tumor Institute of Naples, which will be published in the journal ‘Frontiers in Immunology’.
The work describes that the Sars-CoV-2 virus presents antigens in its proteins that share a high homology of sequences and conformation with antigens expressed by tumor cells. In particular, the latter are specifically expressed by breast, liver, colon and melanoma tumor cells. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that cells of the immune system (T lymphocytes), from vaccinated subjects or those who have contracted the Sars-CoV-2 infection, are able to cross-react with viral and tumor antigens. This phenomenon, defined as “molecular mimicry”, suggests that the immunological response induced by viral antigens and, consequently, the immune memory that has been established, can represent protection against the development of a tumor.
“This result, also obtained with the support of the Clinical Pathology Laboratory Unit of the Pascale Institute, directed by Ernesta Cavalcanti – explains Luigi Buonaguro, director of the Laboratory of Innovative Immunological Models, coordinator of the study – has a potential impact of considerable relevance medically at a global level. Previously, anecdotal cases of tumor regression have been reported in subjects with Covid-19, including in our Institute. This is the first time that the mechanism according to which this phenomenon occurs – he underlines – In fact, thanks to the considerable experience acquired by our research group in the specific sector of molecular mimicry, it is the first time that not only are the similarities between the molecules of the Sars-CoV-2 virus and tumor molecules described in detail but also the capacity of the cells of the system immune system to cross-react with such molecules”.
In the future, epidemiological data will have to confirm the real impact of this molecular mimicry on the number of new cases of breast, liver, colon and melanoma tumors. If this effect is confirmed, the pandemic it will also have had a positive impact on the world population – the researchers point out – providing a “protective shield” against tumor pathologies with great social impact.
This is “a study of great interest”, comments the scientific director of the Neapolitan Irccs, Alfredo Budillon, confirming that “molecular mimicry can be exploited for the design of personalized therapeutic anti-tumor vaccines which we have been working on at the Institute for some time”. “I am extremely proud – adds the general director of Pascale, Attilio Bianchi – of this result, the result of a project designed and conducted entirely within our Institute, which could have a possible impact of extraordinary magnitude on the health of the world population”.
#Covid #shield #cancer #study
