Miteva DG, Gulinac M, Peruhova M, Velikova T. Exploring the oncogenic potential of SARS-CoV-2 in the gastrointestinal tract. World J Gastroenterol 2025; 31(31): 105665 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v31.i31.105665]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Milena Gulinac, MD, PhD, Department of General and Clinical Pathology, Medical University of Plovdiv, 15A Vassil Aprilov Blvd, Plovdiv 4002, Bulgaria. milena.gulinac@mu-plovdiv.bg
Research Domain of This Article
Immunology
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Dimitrina Georgieva Miteva, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Sofia 1164, Bulgaria
Dimitrina Georgieva Miteva, Tsvetelina Velikova, Medical Faculty, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Sofia 1407, Bulgaria
Milena Gulinac, Department of General and Clinical Pathology, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv 4002, Bulgaria
Milena Peruhova, Department of Gastroenterology, Heart and Brain Hospital, Burgas 8000, Bulgaria
Author contributions: Peruhova M and Velikova T participated in conceptualizing the idea and writing the draft; Miteva DG and Gulinac M wrote additional sections in the paper; Velikova T crafted the figures/tables; Peruhova M was responsible for the critical revision of the manuscript for relevant intellectual content; All authors approved the final version of the paper prior to submission.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Milena Gulinac, MD, PhD, Department of General and Clinical Pathology, Medical University of Plovdiv, 15A Vassil Aprilov Blvd, Plovdiv 4002, Bulgaria. milena.gulinac@mu-plovdiv.bg
Received: February 2, 2025 Revised: March 27, 2025 Accepted: July 23, 2025 Published online: August 21, 2025 Processing time: 197 Days and 14.2 Hours
Abstract
Recent research has increasingly highlighted the potential oncogenic effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection within the gastrointestinal tract. Growing evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may contribute to the development of gastrointestinal malignancies through several mechanisms, including sustained chronic inflammation, disruption of normal cellular homeostasis, and potential viral integration into host cells. These pathological processes have the potential to dysregulate critical cellular pathways, thereby promoting cancer development in vulnerable populations. A thorough understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 interacts with the development of gastrointestinal cancer is essential for optimizing patient care and establishing comprehensive, long-term monitoring protocols. This review highlighted the pressing need for ongoing research into the complex relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the risk of gastrointestinal cancer.
Core Tip: Investigating the potential oncological implications of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the gastrointestinal tract is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the impact of the virus on humans. Recent research has identified a potential relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of gastrointestinal cancers, sparking important discussions about the enduring health impacts of the virus. This review article highlighted the pressing need for ongoing research to elucidate the complex relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and gastrointestinal oncogenesis, providing valuable insights that can inform both coronavirus disease 2019 management strategies and cancer prevention efforts.
