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Review Article Open Access
Volume 4 | Issue 2 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.33696/cancerimmunol.4.063

Higher Frequency and Poor Prognosis with COVID-19 Associated Cytokine Storm among Cancer Patients: Between Two Fires

  • 1NDivision of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Aksaray Training and Research Hospital, Aksaray, Turkey
  • 2Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
  • 3Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Çam and Sakura Training and Research Hospital, Turkey
+ Affiliations - Affiliations

Corresponding Author

Murat Bektas, bektas.murat1988@gmail.com

Received Date: April 15, 2022

Accepted Date: May 26, 2022

Abstract

The clinical spectrum of COVID-19 ranges from asymptomatic disease to viral pneumonia leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multiorgan failure, and death. In addition to these risk factors, COVID-19 patients with cancer were shown to have poor outcomes in multiple studies. Hyperinflammatory response (cytokine storm) is one of the main features of severe disease and is also associated with poor outcomes including intensive care unit (ICU) and mortality in patients with COVID-19. Several potential factors might be associated to poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19 accompanying cancer. Higher development of cytokine storm, receiving chemotherapeutics and/or immunosuppressants, higher susceptibility to infections as well as other potential metabolic complications could be counted among these factors. Inflammatory cytokines are essential for the development and progression in cancer. Patients with malignancy and/
or receiving immunosuppressants are at high risk for complications, development of cytokine storm, and poor outcomes associated with COVID-19. Furthermore, recurrent/prolonged cytokine storm is an emerging potential life-threatening condition in patients with cancer or immunosuppressants beyond prolonged PCR positivity. 

Keywords

 COVID-19, SARS-Cov-2, Cytokine storm, Hyperinflammation, Cancer, IL-6

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