The CD147 Problem:

Why Cancer Is Finding Younger Targets, and What We're Not Being Told

February 27, 2026

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A Message from Dr. McMillan

During the pandemic, intense political and scientific narratives made it difficult to openly explore certain biological questions, including how pathways like CD147 might behave long term.

CD147 is a molecule in the body that helps control immune responses and is also linked to how some cancers grow and spread.  

As we move forward, it’s important that science calmly and transparently examines these mechanisms, so we fully understand any future health risks rather than simply assuming the story is over.

Dr. Philip McMillan

In this week's February 27th, 2026 update:

  • Covid-19: Why cancer is finding younger targets

  • Vejon: This week’s featured Vejon video

  • Health: Vaccine to treat colds, flu and COVID

  • Infographic: The CD147 problem

  • News: Medical news in brief

  • Education: Post COVID phenotypes - What makes you unique?

    Read time: 6 minutes

FEATURE ARTICLE

COVID-19

  • Cancer rates are rising sharply in younger adults worldwide, with aggressive types increasing across multiple cancer registries.

  • SARS-CoV-2 actively upregulates CD147, a receptor that helps tumour cells survive, spread, and resist immune destruction.

  • Repeated spike protein exposure may cause IgG4 class switching, weakening the immune system's ability to identify and kill cancer cells.

  • Traditional risk factors alone cannot explain the sudden surge; researchers urge rigorous investigation into these emerging biological mechanisms.

Why this is important: Cancer is striking younger people at alarming rates worldwide, and emerging research suggests a biological mechanism linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection may be partly responsible. The virus appears to upregulate a protein called CD147 that helps tumour cells thrive, while simultaneously weakening immune defences against cancer.

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HEALTH

Universal Vaccine to Treat Colds, Flu and COVID Developed
Author: Manal Mohammed, University of Westminster

  • Instead of targeting specific bugs, the vaccine triggers a broad, prolonged immune system high alert against various threats.

  • Delivered as a nasal spray, it directly and powerfully stimulates key immune cells within the respiratory tract.

  • Tested only in mice so far, the vaccine provided up to three months of broad protection against infections.

  • If successful in humans, it could replace annual jabs and provide immediate defense against future pandemic viruses.

Why this is important: Developing a single nasal spray that defends against numerous infections at once could revolutionize medicine. By putting the immune system on high alert, this approach might eventually replace separate annual vaccines and provide an immediate, life-saving shield against entirely new pandemic viruses before specific treatments are even invented.

INFOGRAPHIC

EDUCATION

This short tool maps symptom patterns and highlights which systems may need attention first - because with Post-COVID patterns, order of therapy often matters more than severity of symptoms.

If you’re living with ongoing symptoms or know someone who is, I would encourage you to click on the link, create a record of your symptoms and learn more about what they may mean.

MEDICAL NEWS IN BRIEF

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

🚥 Closing In on a Universal Vaccine: Nasal Spray Protects Mice From Respiratory Viruses, Bacteria, and Allergens: Tulane researchers discovered that while both COVID-19 and influenza cause lasting lung damage, only COVID-19 triggers persistent brain inflammation and blood vessel injury, even in mild cases. This distinction helps explain long COVID's neurological symptoms and opens pathways for targeted treatments and better patient monitoring. [SOURCE]

🚥 The 5am Myth: Why Waking Early Won’t Make You More Successful: Waking at 5am won't make you more productive if it fights your biology. Individual chronotypes, largely shaped by genetics, determine when you perform best. Forcing an early schedule can cause sleep debt, poor health, and reduced focus. True productivity comes from aligning routines with your natural rhythm.

🚥 Centenarians' Blood Sheds Light on the Mechanisms of Longevity: Reaching 100 may partly depend on blood chemistry that mirrors much younger people. Swiss researchers found centenarians share protein profiles closer to 30–60-year-olds than 80-year-olds, particularly showing lower oxidative stress and better metabolic regulation, suggesting lifestyle choices could meaningfully slow key aging mechanisms. [SOURCE]

🚥 Big Feelings: Five Ways Parents Can Help Kids Learn to Regulate Their Emotions: Learning to manage emotions isn't instinctive for children; it's a skill built over time with parental guidance. This article matters because it equips caregivers with practical, evidence-based strategies to help children navigate intense feelings, laying the groundwork for healthier emotional development and stronger parent-child relationships.

🚥 Obstructive Sleep Apnea May Cost UK and US Economies Billions in Lost Productivity: Millions of workers unknowingly lose productivity to a treatable breathing disorder. This analysis reveals untreated obstructive sleep apnea costs the US and UK billions annually, yet treatment is cheaper than the losses it prevents, making a compelling case for workplace screening programs targeting high-risk occupations. [SOURCE]

🚥 Toxic Exposure Creates Disease Risk Over 20 Generations, Epigenetic Inheritance Study Suggests: Exposure to a common fungicide during pregnancy can pass disease risk through at least 20 generations of offspring, with health effects actually worsening over time. This suggests today's rising chronic disease rates may trace back to ancestors' chemical exposures decades or even centuries ago, reinforcing the urgent need for preventative medicine.
[SOURCE]

BOOK NOOK

Set within a child’s nose, ‘Humming Heroes’ features a family of Lymphocytes led by a wise Mother, brave Father, determined Brother, and heroic Baby, confronting invading microorganisms. The story takes an imaginative turn, when a humming melody combines with the Lymphocytes’ song to repel the invaders and restore inner harmony.

"Disease X: Are You Prepared?" is your comprehensive guide to navigating the uncertain future of global health. Drawing from experience and the latest scientific insights, this book offers:

  • Practical strategies for personal and community preparedness.

  • Lessons learned from COVID-19 and other outbreaks.

  • Actionable steps to boost resilience against emerging health threats.

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The business side of healthcare

If your healthcare news feels scattered, that’s because it probably is.

Healthcare Brew pulls it together—covering pharma, policy, health tech, and hospital operations in a free newsletter built for the business side of healthcare.

Clear context. Industry interviews. Engaging reporting. Read by 135,000+ professionals who want to know what matters without digging for it.