SARS CoV-2 in tumor tissue in glioblastoma patients – preliminary study

Abstract SARS-CoV-2 infection often causes neurological disorders. Experimental studies on an animal model have shown that SARS-CoV-2 is able to cross the blood-brain barrier. Researchers have also discovered that SARS-CoV-2 can infect glial cells. Gliomas are the most common type of brain tumor. Oncological patients are at high risk of infections, including SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, their weakened immunity causes the level of antibodies after infection or vaccination to be lower than in the healthy population. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in tumor tissue collected during surgery. We also tested the level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in these patients. The obtained results indicate the tropism of the virus to tumor tissue – glioblastoma. The level of anti-SARS antibodies was higher in patients with SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in tumour tissue.