2019-nCoV may create complications in colon cancer patients with ACE2 expression.

Since December 2019, a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has emerged from Wuhan, China, causing symptoms in humans. Much remains unknown about 2019-nCoV, especially the additional risks that 2019-nCoV infection may pose for colon cancer patients. Many reports show that angiotensin converting enzyme II (ACE2) is the cell receptor through which 2019-nCoV enters host cells, and this is similar to the cell entry mechanism of SARS coronavirus. Previous studies show that ACE2 is highly expressed in the gastrointestinal tract, especially in the colon. In patients with colon cancer, ACE2 expression is significantly increased in tumor tissues compared to tissues from patients with other types of cancer. One of the known regulators of endocytosis is the serine protease (TMPRSS2) and AP2-associated protein kinase 1 (AAK1), which also facilitates the passage of viruses into cells. Furthermore, the Database of Gene expression profiling interactive analysis suggests that expression levels for ACE2, TMPRSS2, and AAK1 are positively correlated in colon cells. Therefore, our findings predict that 2019-nCoV will create increased complications for patients with colon cancer.