Since 2019, the world population is suffering from the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Although many COVID-19 vaccines are available, mutant forms of SARS-CoV-2 have reduced the effectiveness of vaccines. Prospective cohort studies have demonstrated that COVID-19 patients with underlying malignancies have a higher mortality rate than those without cancer. For example, a meta-analysis of 18,650 patients with both COVID-19 and cancer showed that the pooled mortality (up to 25.6%) was significantly higher than the mortality of COVID-19 patients without cancers. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify drugs to help cancer patients infected with COVID-19. Current research findings have shown that integrated Traditional Chinese and Western medicine can be effective in preventing COVID-19 and relieving clinical symptoms of COVID-19. Some Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) were officially recommended by the National Medical Products Administration, as adjunctive therapy, in the treatment of COVID-19.

TCM can potentially be used for the treatment of cancers associated with COVID-19, and has received worldwide attention. The pharmacological studies have suggested that TCM is effective for COVID-19 probably through its host-directed regulation and certain antiviral effects. For example, there are over 133 ongoing registered clinical studies on TCM, and three Chinese patent medicines including Jiaonang (Forsythiae and Honeysuckle Flower Pestilence-Clearing Granules/Capsules), Jinhua Qinggan Keli (Honeysuckle Flower Cold-Relieving Granules) and Xuebijing (Stasis-Resolving & Toxin-Removing) Injection were officially approved by the National Medical Products Administration to list COVID-19 as an additional indication. The combination of TCM and Western medicine provides us new hope for treating COVID19 and cancer patients. So, the identification of new effective treatments and a better understanding on the molecular mechanisms of newly developed drugs for treating COVID-19 and different cancers types could be a new hope to reduce the mortality rate.

In this Research Topic we welcome manuscripts that specifically deal with the basic, clinical, and/or omics study of COVID-19 and cancer research. Through scientific and drug discovery, we are dedicated to advancing the fight against COVID-19 and cancer and to identifying the molecular mechanisms of targeted strategies. Authors are encouraged to submit original experimental articles, expert reviews, short communications, and clinical trial articles associated with this Research Topic. We expect submissions relating to, but not limited to, the following topics:
1. Using animal or clinical data to identify the use of novel drugs for treating COVID-19 and cancers.
2. Using big data or omics analysis and experimental validation to explore novel molecular pathways of new drugs for treating COVID-19 and cancers.
3. Using animal and human models to demonstrate the possible use of integrated TCM and Western medicine for treating COVID-19 and cancers.

*For articles relating to other aspects of Covid-19 and endocrine research, please see our related Research Topics
Endocrinology and COVID-19: A Cross-Disciplinary Topic Vol. 2
Endocrinology and COVID-19: A Cross-Disciplinary Topic
Covid-19 and Diabetes Volume II
Covid-19 and Diabetes
Long COVID and Diabetes
Covid-19 and Obesity
The Thyroid and Covid-19
Musculoskeletal Diseases in COVID-19 Epidemic-19
Endocrine Consequences in Children Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Social Behavior Changes
Covid-19 and Pituitary Endocrinology

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