Does acute inflammation triggered by infection promote cancer progression?

Getting a common infection, like flu or COVID, might change how cancer grows inside the body. In lab studies, infections cause swelling and immune changes that can help tumors grow and spread. But the same immune response can sometimes attack cancer instead of helping it. Doctors do not yet know which effect wins in a real patient.

Lab and animal evidence only, not yet tested for real patients.

Integrity screen: passed (3 checks) Checked 22 September 2026. Retraction record: none. DOI resolves at doi.org. Metadata record found (PLOS Biology). Read the source

This screen checks process signals. It does not tell you the findings are true.