↓ Skip to main content
ELIZA on Steroids
ELIZA on Steroids — Critical AI Analysis
  1. Blog/

Validation of Core Claims: Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong on COVID-19 and p53

··742 words·4 mins
Science Health Pandemic Patrick Soon-Shiong P53 COVID-19 Cancer Research ImmunityBio Long-Covid Oncology SARS-CoV-2 HPV ANKTIVA
Table of Contents

The provided summary is based on a recent conversation (likely a video interview) with Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, a renowned oncologist, biotech entrepreneur, and founder of ImmunityBio. Soon-Shiong has presented similar theses in several public appearances, including interviews with Tucker Carlson in March 2025 and posts on X. The claims are largely plausible and supported by scientific literature where verifiable. However, they represent a mix of established facts, preliminary observations, and speculative hypotheses. The specific study on COVID-19 and p53 inhibition, conducted with Dr. Carlos Cadona, has not been published by November 2025. Soon-Shiong describes it as “soon to be published,” indicating ongoing research but not yet providing peer-reviewed evidence.

I have verified the statements based on current sources, including scientific publications, X posts, and reports. Here is a detailed evaluation:

1. p53 as a Cellular “Guardian” Gene Against Cancer
#

Completely correct. The TP53 gene encodes the p53 protein – the “Guardian of the Genome”. It recognizes DNA damage, stops the cell cycle, or triggers apoptosis. → Mutations in TP53 in ~50% of all cancer types.

“p53 is the most important tumor suppressor in humans.” – Nature Reviews Cancer[^4]

2. Humans Have 1 Copy, Elephants 8 – Elephants Rarely Get Cancer
#

Mostly accurate – with correction.

  • Humans: 2 alleles (diploid), Soon-Shiong means functional copy per haplotype.
  • Elephants: up to 20 TP53 retrogenes (not 8) → stronger apoptosis.
  • Cancer rate: ~4.8% in elephants vs. 11–25% in humans → Peto’s Paradox.

3. Claim: COVID-19 Turns Off p53 – Data “Soon to Be Published”
#

Biologically plausible, but not yet proven.

  • SARS-CoV-2 spike protein disrupts p53-MDM2 interaction in cell cultures → p53 ↓, apoptosis ↓.
  • Cancer cells survive chemotherapy (e.g., cisplatin) better.

“Spike inhibits p53 → cancer cells survive cisplatin better.” – Oncotarget[^2]

Dr. Carlos Cadona? → No publications. Likely internal collaborator. Soon-Shiong: “We will publish this soon.” → As of 10.11.2025: No paper yet.

4. Comparison to HPV: Latency and Rising Head/Neck Cancer
#

Accurate and relevant.

  • HPV (16/18) destroys p53 via E6 protein → years-long latency → cancer.
  • Since ~2010: HPV-related head/neck cancer > cervical cancer in USA (~20,000 vs. 13,000 cases/year).
  • Soon-Shiong: “COVID could be like HPV – a silent oncogenic time bomb.”

5. Clinical Activities: Head/Neck, Lung, Colorectal Studies
#

Ongoing and confirmed.

  • Observation: More young patients with aggressive head/neck cancer post-COVID.
  • QUILT trials: ANKTIVA (IL-15 superagonist) in Phase 3 for lung, head/neck, and colorectal cancer.
  • NK-cell therapy in glioblastoma (2025).

6. Long-COVID Study: “BioShield” Administration
#

Launched in August 2025.

  • Phase 2, n=40, Chan Soon-Shiong Institute.
  • ANKTIVA (“BioShield”) activates NK and T cells against persistent virus.

7. General Recommendations
#

Evidence-based and sensible.

  • Keep ALC stable → low lymphocytes = worse prognosis.
  • HbA1c <7% in diabetes → reduces inflammation & cancer risk.
  • Monitor NK/T cells → key for immune defense.

Summary Table
#

ClaimStatusEvidence LevelKey Source
p53 as guardian geneConfirmedHighNature Reviews Cancer
Elephant TP53 copies(20, not 8)HighJAMA 2015
COVID inhibits p53In vitro onlyMediumOncotarget 2024
HPV analogy & US statsConfirmedHighCDC 2025
Clinical trialsOngoingHighclinicaltrials.gov NCT06244771
Long-COVID BioShieldLaunchedHighImmunityBio 19.08.2025
RecommendationsBest practiceHighNature Immunology

Final Assessment
#

Dr. Soon-Shiong’s core hypothesis – “SARS-CoV-2 suppresses p53 and could promote cancer long-term” – is biologically plausible, supported by cell studies, but not yet clinically proven. The HPV comparison is spot-on. Clinical programs and Long-COVID study are real and promising.

Conclusion: Serious science, but no red alert yet. Wait for the p53 study (Q1 2026?).

Actionable Insight
#

If you’re affected (Long-COVID, fatigue, low lymphocytes, tumor markers ↑):

  1. Get NK/T cells and ALC measured.
  2. Talk to your oncologist about ImmunityBio trials → NCT06244771
  3. Control HbA1c, strengthen immune system (sleep, exercise, Vitamin D).
  4. Wait for the p53 publication – but don’t panic.

Footnotes
#

  1. Soon-Shiong X post, 15 Jul 2025
  2. Oncotarget, 2024 May;15:320–335
  3. ImmunityBio Investor Update, Q3 2025
  4. Nature Reviews Cancer, 2021
  5. JAMA, 2015;314(17):1835
  6. Nature, 2018;560:635–639
  7. J. Infection, 2022;85:557–564
  8. PMC9849742, 2022
  9. CDC Cancer Statistics, 2025
  10. Lancet Oncology, 2021;22:156–165
  11. clinicaltrials.gov NCT06244771
  12. BioSpace, 20 Aug 2025

Sources
#

Related

Unveiling the Hidden Dangers: How COVID-19 Vaccines May Be Fueling a Silent Pandemic

··645 words·4 mins
Health Science Pandemic COVID-19 Vaccination MRNA Immune Escape HIVICRON Herd Immunity Virulence
As a concerned reader of the manuscript “Vaccine-associated viral immune escape: not just a matter of vaccine efficacy!,” I am compelled to share my thoughts on the alarming implications of mass COVID-19 vaccination. This document presents a sobering perspective on how our global response to the pandemic might be inadvertently creating a new, more insidious threat.

Fermentation Instead of Combustion: What Spike Protein Does to Mitochondria — and Why You Can Smell It

··1262 words·6 mins
Pandemic Health Structural Analysis Spike-Protein Mitochondria Long-Covid Post-Vac VOC Methylene Blue Spikopathy Health
The body odour changes. Not dramatically, not suddenly — but noticeably. Fermented, sweet, yeasty, sometimes like overripe fruit. Those who know this get a shrug from their doctor: hormone imbalance perhaps, or stress, or not drinking enough water. The biochemistry offers a more precise answer.

The Hidden Dangers of COVID-19 Vaccines: A Look Behind the Scenes

··1240 words·6 mins
Health Science Politics COVID-19 MRNA Vaccination Fertility Spike-Protein SV40-DNA Vaccine Safety Amyloid Headaches Military Operation Pfizer WHO
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have witnessed an unprecedented global response that has had profound impacts on our society, our healthcare systems, and our daily lives. While many of us thought the worst storm had passed, more and more questions and concerns are emerging about the safety and long-term effects of COVID-19 vaccines. In this article, we take a detailed look at current revelations and studies that provide alarming insights into the potential risks and side effects of these vaccines.

BA.3.2 'Cicada' and the Great Silence: A New Variant Wave, Old Unanswered Questions

··1288 words·7 mins
Health Politics BA.3.2 Cicada NB.1.8.1 SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance Vaccine Injury BGH Drosten Enquete WHO
It is spring 2026, and the pattern is repeating itself. A new SARS-CoV-2 variant informally named “Cicada” (BA.3.2) is now detected in at least 31 U.S. states[1]. China and Hong Kong are simultaneously reporting their sharpest case rise “in at least a year”, driven by NB.1.8.1[2]. The WHO notes that “limited surveillance data” are increasingly hampering vaccination strategies worldwide[3].