{
  "abstract": "Chronic infections are associated with cancer incidence and progression in human epidemiological data, but less is known about how such infections might promote cancer progression. Recent data implicate acute infection with common respiratory viruses, such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2, in cancer progression, providing evidence that infection-driven inflammation can promote tumor expansion and dissemination in experimental systems. The resulting acute inflammatory cascade and dynamic immune cell reprogramming can rapidly remodel the tissue microenvironment to favor cancer cell survival, growth, and evasion of immune elimination. However, acute infections can also elicit anti-tumor immune responses. Defining how infections differentially skew immune programs to promote or restrain cancer progression will therefore be essential for developing future strategies to target this disease.\n\nAcute infections have been recently linked to cancer progression in experimental systems, which is supported by epidemiological human data, but they can also elicit anti-tumor immune responses. This Unsolved Mystery highlights our gaps in understanding how infections differentially skew immune programs to promote or restrain cancer progression; addressing these gaps will provide new avenues for prevention and therapy.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America",
    "Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America"
  ],
  "article_type": "Unsolved Mystery",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Felipe Valença-Pereira"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Bryan Johnson"
    },
    {
      "name": "James DeGregori"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mercedes Rincon"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/d7dkn2gmcq4hk.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pbio.3003962",
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  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
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      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Immunology/Immune response/Inflammation"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Medical conditions/Infectious diseases/Respiratory infections"
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      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Medical conditions/Respiratory disorders/Respiratory infections"
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      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Cancer treatment"
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      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Cancers and neoplasms/Breast tumors/Breast cancer"
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      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Cancers and neoplasms/Colorectal cancer"
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      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Cancers and neoplasms/Lung and intrathoracic tumors"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Cancers and neoplasms/Skin neoplasms/Skin tumors"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Metastasis"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Pulmonology/Respiratory disorders/Respiratory infections"
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  "openalex": "W7213301672",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3003962&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-15",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/d7dkn2gmcq4hk.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:49Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pbio.3003962",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3003962"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:oncology",
      "subfield": "oncology"
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  ],
  "title": "Does acute inflammation triggered by infection promote cancer progression?",
  "title_text": "Does acute inflammation triggered by infection promote cancer progression?",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:49Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/d7dkn2gmcq4hk",
  "venue": "PLOS Biology",
  "versions": []
}