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  "path": "/news/2026-04-covid-lingering-shadow-molecular-link.html",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-10T13:00:05.000Z",
  "site": "https://medicalxpress.com",
  "textContent": "A new study suggests that COVID-19 may slightly increase the risk of lung cancer by triggering a biological chain reaction in the lungs, driven by the virus's spike protein, that promotes inflammation, scarring, and tumor-friendly conditions, especially in higher-risk groups like smokers; while the individual risk remains small, the findings are important because they reveal a plausible mechanism and potential targets for prevention and treatment.",
  "title": "COVID-19's lingering shadow: The molecular link between SARS-CoV-2 and lung cancer risk"
}