CORONAVIRUS SARS-COV-2 MODIFIES ANTITUMOR REDOX STATUS OF BLOOD AND INTERCELLULAR MATRIX IN METASTATIC COLORECTAL...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Infectious Diseases
• Biochemistry

Background:

• SARS-CoV-2 infection elevates mortality risk and complications in cancer patients.
• COVID-19 induces oxidative stress, a key factor in cancer progression and inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of SARS-CoV-2-induced hypoxia on blood redox status in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients.

Main Methods:

• Analyzed blood biochemistry (C-reactive protein, ferritin, transferrin, free iron) in mCRC patients with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• Measured superoxide radical (ROS) levels using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR).
• Assessed metalloproteinase activity via polyacrylamide gel zymography.

Main Results:

• mCRC patients with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection showed a 1.26-fold increase in ROS generation by neutrophils.
• Elevated levels of C-reactive protein (2-fold), transferrin (6-fold), and free iron (1.4-fold) were observed in these patients.
• Increased gelatinase activity in platelets (1.4-fold) and neutrophils (1.2-fold) was noted.

Conclusions:

• Prior COVID-19 infection in mCRC patients is associated with heightened inflammatory responses.
• SARS-CoV-2 infection disrupts redox balance, potentially worsening mCRC prognosis.