Exploring Possible Links Between COVID-19 Vaccination, Infection, and Cancer
Jan 26, 2026
A review of 69 studies explores unusual patterns of cancer diagnoses, recurrences, and tumors appearing near injection sites after COVID-19 vaccination or infection. The discussion covers population study limits and proposed biological mechanisms like immune disruption and persistent viral components. The podcast outlines evidence thresholds and calls for improved surveillance and targeted research.
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Temporally Linked Cancer Reports Exist
Post-pandemic reports describe cancer diagnoses or progression after COVID-19 vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 infection without proving causation.
The review treats these patterns as hypothesis-generating signals that need careful study.
insights INSIGHT
Vaccine Novelty Raises Biological Questions
Rapid vaccine development reduced severe COVID-19 and deaths but lacked long-term carcinogenicity testing.
The vaccine novelty prompted questions about rare, biologically plausible interactions with cancer pathways.
insights INSIGHT
Unexpected Clinical Patterns Appeared
Some reports show rapid progression or tumors near injection sites not explained by delayed care alone.
The review compiled 69 studies to identify recurring clinical patterns rather than prove cause.
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A growing number of post-pandemic reports have described cancer diagnoses, recurrence, or progression following COVID-19 vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 infection. While no causal relationship has been established, these observations raise important questions that warrant careful, hypothesis-driven investigation.
The rapid development and global distribution of mRNA and viral vector vaccines during the pandemic was a landmark achievement in public health, essential in reducing severe COVID-19 cases and mortality. However, the novelty of these vaccines and the absence of long-term carcinogenicity or genotoxicity testing have led some researchers to ask whether rare but biologically plausible interactions with cancer pathways might exist.
At the same time, pandemic-related disruptions in routine cancer screening and treatment were anticipated to influence diagnosis patterns. Yet, some reports have described unexpected phenomena, such as rapid disease progression in previously stable cancers or tumor appearance near injection sites, that are not easily explained by delayed care alone.
The Review: Examining 69 Studies on Cancer Diagnoses After COVID-19 Vaccination or Infection
In a review published in Volume 17 of Oncotarget, titled “COVID vaccination and post-infection cancer signals: Evaluating patterns and potential biological mechanisms,” Charlotte Kuperwasser (Tufts University) and Oncotarget Editor-in-Chief Wafik S. El-Deiry (The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University) examined 69 peer-reviewed publications spanning January 2020 to October 2025.
Full blog - https://www.oncotarget.org/2026/01/26/exploring-possible-links-between-covid-19-vaccination-infection-and-cancer/
Paper DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28824
Correspondence to - Charlotte Kuperwasser - charlotte.kuperwasser@tufts.edu, and Wafik S. El-Deiry - wafik@brown.edu
Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_-AaojOoR8
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Keywords - cancer, COVID, vaccine, infection, lymphoma, leukemia, sarcoma, carcinoma
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