Case report explores potential link between mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and cancer
“In this article, we assess the risk of developing haematopoietic cancers post-modRNA vaccination based on current scientific literature and explore the reported potential genetic and molecular mechanisms involved in disease pathogenesis”
2026-02-11
(Press-News.org)
“In this article, we assess the risk of developing haematopoietic cancers post-modRNA vaccination based on current scientific literature and explore the reported potential genetic and molecular mechanisms involved in disease pathogenesis.”
BUFFALO, NY – February 11, 2026 – A new case report was published in Volume 17 of Oncotarget on February 6, 2026, titled “Exploring the potential link between mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations and cancer: A case report with a review of haematopoietic malignancies with insights into pathogenic mechanisms.”
In this report, led by first author Patrizia Gentilini along with corresponding author Panagis Polykretis from the “Allineare Sanità e Salute” Foundation and Independent Medical Scientific Commission (CMSi), Milano, an international team of researchers presented a detailed case involving a healthy, athletic woman who developed acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoblastic lymphoma shortly after receiving her second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. The authors reviewed existing literature and discussed possible immune-related mechanisms that could connect mRNA vaccines to blood cancers, calling attention to the need for further investigation.
The case report focuses on a 38-year-old woman who began experiencing immune-related symptoms the day after her second COVID-19 mRNA vaccine dose. Within months, she was diagnosed with an aggressive blood cancer affecting early-stage lymphocytes. While she initially achieved complete remission through chemotherapy, she later experienced a central nervous system relapse and underwent a stem cell transplant. The sequence of events raises questions about whether the vaccine-induced immune response may have contributed to disease onset or progression.
To provide broader context, the authors reviewed several other reports describing similar cancer cases after COVID-19 vaccination. These included lymphomas, leukemias, and other haematopoietic disorders. In many cases, symptoms appeared shortly after vaccination. While these instances remain rare, the authors argue that the patterns merit closer study. They also discuss potential mechanisms, including immune suppression, increased inflammation, and vaccine-related interference with key cancer-protective proteins such as p53.
One concern highlighted in the report involves lipid nanoparticles used to deliver the vaccine, which may circulate beyond the injection site and reach organs such as the bone marrow. The authors note that changes in immune signaling, antibody responses, and genetic material could, under certain conditions, create conditions favorable to cancer development in susceptible individuals. However, they emphasize that a definitive cause-and-effect relationship has not been established.
“The carcinogenic risk associated with these technologies, which has long been known within the gene therapy field, represents an area of research that cannot be ignored, given the fundamental principle of medicine “primum non nocere” (first, do no harm).”
Although the case does not prove that vaccination caused the cancer, it adds to a small body of evidence suggesting that immune disturbances from mRNA vaccines should be studied further. The authors emphasize the importance of continuing long-term safety monitoring as mRNA vaccine technologies are expanded to other uses. Understanding potential rare risks is essential for ensuring informed public health decisions while maintaining trust in vaccine programs.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28827
Correspondence to: Panagis Polykretis – panagis.polykretis@gmail.com
Abstract video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO-wewH7mEY
Keywords: COVID-19 genetic vaccines, adverse effects, cancer, lymphoblastic leukaemia, lymphoblastic lymphoma
Click here to sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article.
________
About Oncotarget:
Oncotarget (a primarily oncology-focused, peer-reviewed, open access journal) aims to maximize research impact through insightful peer-review; eliminate borders between specialties by linking different fields of oncology, cancer research and biomedical sciences; and foster application of basic and clinical science.
Oncotarget is indexed and archived by PubMed/Medline, PubMed Central, Scopus, EMBASE, META (Chan Zuckerberg Initiative) (2018-2022), and Dimensions (Digital Science).
To learn more about Oncotarget, visit Oncotarget.com and connect with us on social media:
X
Facebook
YouTube
Instagram
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Spotify, and available wherever you listen to podcasts
Click here to subscribe to Oncotarget publication updates.
For media inquiries, please contact media@impactjournals.com
END
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
2026-02-11
WASHINGTON (Feb. 11, 2026) — The quality of a low-carbohydrate or low-fat diet may matter more than the amount of carbohydrates or fat consumed when it comes to reducing heart disease risk, according to a new study published in JACC, the flagship journal of the American College of Cardiology. Researchers found that versions of both diet patterns emphasizing macronutrients from healthy foods were associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), while versions high in refined carbohydrates and animal products were linked to higher risk and adverse ...
2026-02-11
Key points:
Low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets rich in high-quality, plant-based foods and low in animal products and refined carbohydrates were linked with lower risk of heart disease, while the same diets that were rich in refined carbohydrates and high in animal products and other low-quality foods were associated with a higher risk of heart disease. The study suggests that it’s the quality of the macronutrients composing these diets that make a difference for heart health, rather than the quantity.
According to the researchers, the findings help debunk the myth that simply modulating carbohydrate or fat intake is inherently beneficial.
Boston, ...
2026-02-11
(WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2026) — The American Society of Hematology (ASH) released guidelines on frontline management of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adolescents and young adults (AYAs), as well as the management of relapsed or refractory disease in this population. Both guidelines, grounded in evidence-based practice, were developed by pediatric and adult experts in collaboration with patient representatives to improve outcomes for this vulnerable patient population. They were published in the Society’s peer-reviewed journal Blood Advances.
“Caring for these individuals is complex ...
2026-02-11
LOS ANGELES — City of Hope® Research Spotlight offers a glimpse into groundbreaking scientific and clinical discoveries advancing lifesaving cures for patients with cancer, diabetes and other chronic, life-threatening diseases. Each spotlight features research-related news, such as recognitions, collaborations and the latest research defining the future of medical treatment.
To learn more about research at City of Hope, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations ...
2026-02-11
As Norway and other nations begin to scale up the storage of CO2 in undersea geologic reservoirs, research from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is helping answer two important questions about this storage.
“Where has my CO2 gone? Is it leaking or not?” says Martin Landrø, an NTNU geophysicist and director of the university’s Centre for Geophysical Forecasting (CGF). “Those are the basic questions actually.”
This is like a revolution in visualization and understanding of what's happening.
Norway ...
2026-02-11
Chemotherapy remains one of the most powerful tools in the fight against cancer, yet it often comes with significant long-term side effects that can dramatically affect patients’ quality of life. Among the most debilitating is Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy, which impacts both the central and peripheral nervous systems and affects up to 85% of cancer patients and survivors.
Docetaxel is a chemotherapy drug that kills cancer cells by disrupting microtubules, structures essential for cell division. However, microtubules are also critical for nerve function, so docetaxel can damage nerve endings, axons and mitochondria, causing neuropathic symptoms such as ...
2026-02-11
BETHESDA, MD – February 11, 2026 | Bianca Seminotti, PhD is the 2026 recipient of the ACMG Foundation Early Career Travel Award. The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine selected Dr. Seminotti based on her abstract “Mitochondrial Function in Fibroblasts from a Patient with Congenital NAD Deficiency due to Biallelic NADSYN1 Variants,” which will be delivered as a platform presentation at the 2026 ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting.
Dr. Bianca Seminotti earned her bachelor’s degree in Biomedicine and her master’s and doctoral degrees in Biochemistry from ...
2026-02-11
Key Takeaways
Rural patients often face greater travel distances when seeking coordinated medical care, which can affect the timeliness and quality of their cancer treatment.
New analysis shows that patients with lung or colon cancer had similar surgical outcomes and mortality rates whether they underwent surgery at a local rural or urban facility.
Study provides preliminary evidence that many rural cancer patients can receive complex surgical care locally to reduce their travel burden, the authors said.
CHICAGO — Adults ...
2026-02-11
PULLMAN, Wash. – A wearable biosensor developed by Washington State University researchers could improve wireless glucose monitoring for people with diabetes, making it more cost-effective, accurate, and less invasive than current models.
The WSU researchers have developed a wearable and user-friendly sensor that uses microneedles and sensors to measure sugar in the fluid around cells, providing an alternative to continuous glucose monitoring systems. Reporting in the journal Analyst, the researchers were able to accurately ...
2026-02-11
On January 30, 2026, thirty experts and scholars from domestic and international research institutions and universities, along with more than a hundred faculty and students, gathered at the Guanggu Campus of the Wuhan Botanical Garden to celebrate the release of the Journal of Systematics and Evolution (JSE) special issue on Uplift history and biological evolution of the Himalaya (II). The release of this issue, the second volume of the JSE Himalayas Series, also included a journal development seminar and was jointly organized by JSE and the Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
In addition to promoting ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
[Press-News.org] Case report explores potential link between mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and cancer
“In this article, we assess the risk of developing haematopoietic cancers post-modRNA vaccination based on current scientific literature and explore the reported potential genetic and molecular mechanisms involved in disease pathogenesis”
