Turbo Cancer: Evaluating Claims of Rapid-Onset Malignancies Associated with COVID-19 Vaccination
Abstract The term "turbo cancer" describes purported aggressive, rapidly progressing cancers allegedly induced or exacerbated by COVID-19 vaccines, particularly mRNA formulations. This narrative review synthesizes evidence from observational studies, mechanistic hypotheses, case reports, and counterarguments to assess its validity. A recent 2025 review by Marik and Hope in the Journal of Independent Medicine details epidemiological trends, VAERS data, and proposed mechanisms linking SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to oncogenesis via metabolic reprogramming, immune disruption, and other pathways. Proponents cite associations from large-scale databases, anecdotal reports, and biological plausibility, while critics highlight methodological flaws, biological implausibility, and alternative explanations such as pandemic-related healthcare disruptions. As of October 2025, observational data reveal associations. While the prognosis of these cancers...