Academy of Medical Sciences of I.R. Iran Archives of Iranian Medicine 1029-2977 25 7 2022 07 01 The Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Recurrence: A Narrative Review 450 455 10.34172/aim.2022.74 EN Ahmad R Mafi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2484-1835 Ali Ghanbari Motlagh https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7596-6016 Payam Azadeh https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1771-7377 REVIEW 10.34172/aim.2022.74 2021 08 30 2022 01 05 Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) continues to be a worldwide healthcare problem. While our knowledge of the interaction of cancer and its management with COVID-19 mortality is gradually evolving, there are still many unanswered questions regarding the impact of COVID-19 on cancer and its prognosis. Several factors activated during COVID-19 have been implicated in tumorigenesis and the development of metastasis. Inflammation, hypoxia, reduced levels of angiotensin converting enzyme 2, elevated levels of Interleukin 6 and some other cytokines that are hallmarks of COVID-19 are capable of inducing tumor relapse and metastasis. On the other hand, there are reports that COVID-19 has been associated with cancer cure. Understanding the interaction between COVID-19 and tumor cells is essential for evaluating the potential long-term risks of COVID-19 in cancer patients, and for scheduling necessary preventive and therapeutic interventions. In this review, we briefly overview the potential impacts that COVID-19 might have on tumorigenesis and cancer relapse, as well as the role that COVID-19 might play in cancer remission and cure.