Landscape of Molecular Crosstalk Perturbation between Lung Cancer and COVID-19

Background: Lung cancer patients have the worst outcomes when affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The molecular mechanisms underlying the association between lung cancer and COVID-19 remain unknown. The objective of this investigation was to determine whether there is crosstalk in molecular perturbation between COVID-19 and lung cancer, and to identify a molecular signature, molecular networks and signaling pathways shared by the two diseases. Methods: We analyzed publicly available gene expression data from 52 severely affected COVID-19 human lung samples, 594 lung tumor samples and 54 normal disease-free lung samples. We performed network and pathways analysis to identify molecular networks and signaling pathways shared by the two diseases. Results: The investigation revealed a signature of genes associated with both diseases and signatures of genes uniquely associated with each disease, confirming crosstalk in molecular perturbation between COVID-19 and lung cancer. In addition, the analysis revealed molecular networks and signaling pathways associated with both diseases. Conclusions: The investigation revealed crosstalk in molecular perturbation between COVID-19 and lung cancer, and molecular networks and signaling pathways associated with the two diseases. Further research on a population impacted by both diseases is recommended to elucidate molecular drivers of the association between the two diseases

Rituximab-induced acute ST elevation myocardial infarction

Background: Rituximab has rarely been associated with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We report the case of a patient in whom rituximab, a monoclonal antibody used to treat lymphomas of B-cell origin, induced ST elevation myocardial infarction. Case Report: A 46-year-old male patient diagnosed with stage II non-Hodgkin lymphoma presented to the emergency department with acute crushing, substernal chest pain that radiated to his back 1 day after a chemotherapy infusion with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone. An electrocardiogram revealed normal sinus rhythm with ST elevations in the inferior leads. The patient underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of his right coronary artery and first diagonal artery with placement of drug-eluting stents. He did well postprocedure and resumed therapy with rituximab under close monitoring by the cardiology and oncology departments without any further cardiac events. Conclusion: In patients with ACS because of chemotherapy, complete revascularization during PCI should be considered