UC study: Cancer, COVID-19 and blood clots
UC researcher receives a grant to investigate how cancer therapy could impact COVID-19 patients
University of Cincinnati researchers and physicians are learning that COVID-19 impacts more than just the lungs. The list of potential issues multiplies when doctors also consider its impact on patients with other underlying conditions or the medications used to treat those conditions.
Shuchi Gulati, MD, UC assistant professor of medicine, UC Health oncologist and member of the UC Cancer Center, is one of the experts who is studying how treatments for patients with cancer and COVID-19 could cause other health complications, namely blood clots.
She recently received a $25,000 grant from the North American Thrombosis Forum to help her investigate this problem.
“Cancer itself can increase a patient’s risk of getting thrombosis,” she says. “Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot within a blood vessel, and it prevents blood from flowing normally through the circulatory system. Researchers think this is because of tissue damage caused by some cancers which might trigger the blood clotting process. Now, blood clotting related to COVID-19 is emerging as a new complication related to infection.
“With this study, we will attempt to understand how treatments for cancer, specifically hormonal therapy and certain immunotherapies, involving use of the patient’s own immune system to fight cancer, could impact artery and vein blood clots in patients who have also been diagnosed with COVID-19.”
Gulati and researchers involved in the study will use a database called CCC19 (for COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium), the local arm of a global consortium of cancer centers and organizations that collects data about cancer patients infected with the coronavirus. The study will be conducted over the course of one year.
“This is the largest registry-based dataset to date recording outcomes of patients with cancer and COVID-19,” Gulati says.
In May, UC joined cancer centers like Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Moffitt Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center as well as national organizations like the American Society of Clinical Oncology and more to participate in this database.
Gulati, who is currently in the Internal Medicine Scholarly Training for Academic Research Fellowship program at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, is excited to pursue this research with hopes it could prevent complications for millions of patients.
“By completing this project, we hope to contribute specific data regarding the thrombotic risk posed by being on specific treatments for cancer,” she says.
Featured photo of a blood clot courtesy of the Center for Disease Control photo gallery.
Impact Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Stay up on all UC's COVID-19 stories, read more #UCtheGood content, or take a UC virtual visit and begin picturing yourself at an institution that inspires incredible stories.
Related Stories
Tennessee woman travels to UC for lifesaving care
November 26, 2024
WLWT highlighted East Tennessee woman Trisha Wilhoit who traveled to the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center for treatment for her Stage 4 colon cancer and received a liver donation from her sister Camille Berkley.
A long haul with long COVID-19
November 25, 2024
A growing body of evidence suggests those in the low- and middle-income brackets are more likely to develop long COVID-19, to suffer longer with its symptoms and to endure job loss, eviction and other serious consequences because of it.
Study finds use of prenatal cannabis may affect behavior of...
November 25, 2024
Aaron Murnan, PhD, assistant professor in the UC College of Nursing, is a co-author of a study that shows the use of cannabis during a mother's pregnancy can affect thinking and learning skills and lead to greater aggression in exposed children