Correlation of SARS‑CoV‑2 to cancer: Carcinogenic or anticancer? (Review)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) is highly infectious and pathogenic. Among patients with severe SARS‑CoV‑2‑caused by corona virus disease 2019 (COVID‑19), those complicated with malignant tumor are vulnerable to COVID‑19 due to compromised immune function caused by tumor depletion, malnutrition and anti‑tumor treatment. Cancer is closely related to the risk of severe illness and mortality in patients with COVID‑19. SARS‑CoV‑2 could promote tumor progression and stimulate metabolism switching in tumor cells to initiate tumor metabolic modes with higher productivity efficiency, such as glycolysis, for facilitating the massive replication of SARS‑CoV‑2. However, it has been shown that infection with SARS‑CoV‑2 leads to a delay in tumor progression of patients with natural killer cell (NK cell) lymphoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma, while SARS‑CoV‑2 elicited anti‑tumor immune response may exert a potential oncolytic role in lymphoma patients. The present review briefly summarized potential carcinogenicity and oncolytic characteristics of SARS‑CoV‑2 as well as strategies to protect patients with cancer during the COVID‑19 pandemic.