Cancer therapy and treatments during COVID-19 era

Adv Biol Regul. 2020 Aug:77:100739. doi: 10.1016/j.jbior.2020.100739. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has put a serious strain on health treatments as well at the economies of many nations. Unfortunately, there is not currently available vaccine for SARS-Cov-2/COVID-19. Various types of patients have delayed treatment or even routine check-ups and we are adapting to a virtual world. In many cases, surgeries are delayed unless they are essential. This is also true with regards to cancer treatments and screening. Interestingly, some existing drugs and nutraceuticals have been screened for their effects on COVID-19. Certain FDA approved drugs, vitamin, natural products and trace minerals may be repurposed to treat or improve the prevention of COVID-19 infections and disease progression. This review article will summarize how the treatments of various cancer patients has changed during the COVID-19 era as well as discuss the promise of some existing drugs and other agents to be repurposed to treat this disease.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cancer; Natural products; Nutraceuticals; Repurposing approved drugs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Betacoronavirus / drug effects
  • Betacoronavirus / immunology
  • Betacoronavirus / pathogenicity
  • COVID-19
  • Comorbidity
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Drug Repositioning
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / drug effects
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / genetics
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / immunology
  • Humans
  • Hydroxychloroquine / therapeutic use
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / virology
  • Pandemics*
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / genetics
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / immunology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / genetics
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / immunology
  • Trace Elements / therapeutic use
  • Vitamins / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • Trace Elements
  • Vitamins
  • spike protein, SARS-CoV-2
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
  • ACE2 protein, human
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2