SARS-COV-2 infection in patients with cancer undergoing checkpoint blockade: Clinical course and outcome

Giacomo, Anna Maria Di; Gambale, Elisabetta; Monterisi, Santa; Valente, Monica; Maio, Michele

doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2020.04.026

Cited by 22 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Another case study conducted on two cancer patients treated with ICIs, who were infected with SARS-CoV-2, developed mild COVID-19 symptoms and they positively recovered from the infection. The finding suggests that treatment with ICIs must not be stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic and the eventuality of a SARS-CoV-2 infection does not obstacle to grant cancer patients with the best standard of care treatment against the infection, which is not associated with a severe symptomatology [ 60 ].…”

Section: Covid-19 and Anti-cancer Therapy: Advantages And Disadvanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cancer Management during COVID-19 Pandemic: Is Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors-Based Immunotherapy Harmful or Beneficial?

Vivarelli

Falzone

Grillo

et al. 2020

Cancers

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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently representing a global health threat especially for fragile individuals, such as cancer patients. It was demonstrated that cancer patients have an increased risk of developing a worse symptomatology upon severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, often leading to hospitalization and intensive care. The consequences of this pandemic for oncology are really heavy, as the entire healthcare system got reorganized. Both oncologists and cancer patients are experiencing rescheduling of treatments and disruptions of appointments with a concurrent surge of fear and stress. In this review all the up-to-date findings, concerning the association between COVID-19 and cancer, are reported. A remaining very debated question regards the use of an innovative class of anti-cancer molecules, the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), given their modulating effects on the immune system. For that reason, administration of ICIs to cancer patients represents a question mark during this pandemic, as its correlation with COVID-19-associated risks is still under investigation. Based on the mechanisms of action of ICIs and the current evidence, we suggest that ICIs not only can be safely administered to cancer patients, but they might even be beneficial in COVID-19-positive cancer patients, by exerting an immune-stimulating action.

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Section: Covid-19 and Anti-cancer Therapy: Advantages And Disadvanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cancer Management during COVID-19 Pandemic: Is Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors-Based Immunotherapy Harmful or Beneficial?

Vivarelli

Falzone

Grillo

et al. 2020

Cancers

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“…After screening the title and abstract, 1556 were excluded, and the full text of the remaining 63 articles was reviewed. Among these, 18 studies reported ICI use in cancer patients and prognosis of COVID-19 infection (5,(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29). The 18 articles consisted of 9 cohort studies, 5 case series and 4 case reports.…”

Section: Search Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immune checkpoint inhibitors use and effects on prognosis of COVID-19 infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Qian

Zuo

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: The influence of prior exposure to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection remains unknown. Methods: We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases from the inception of each database through August 8, 2020. We included studies that reported ICI use in cancer patients and their prognosis in the context of COVID-19. Raw data from the included studies were pooled to determine effect estimates. Chi-squared and I2 tests were used to calculate heterogeneity among the included studies.Results: Eighteen studies were included for the systematic review, and 8 of those were included in the meta-analysis. Patients with prior ICI treatment exhibited a higher rate of hospitalization (OR [odds ratio] 2.6, 95% CI 1.45-4.68, p=0.001; I2=0%) and severe disease (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.14-3.43, p=0.015). However, the OR of mortality in ICI-exposed cases was similar to non-ICI exposed patients (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.60-1.34, p= 0.60; I2=49%). No statistically significant difference in mortality was observed between patients exposed to ICI and other antitumor treatments.Conclusions: Although a higher rate of hospitalization and severe disease was observed, prior exposure to ICI did not significantly increase the rate of death in the context of COVID-19.

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“…Two patients who tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 infection during the course of treatment with checkpoint inhibitors were reported to have recovered from the viral infection and will resume anticancer therapy. 18 Anti-cytokines are among the most common classes of agents being tested for COVID-19. On the one hand, neutrophils and macrophages may secrete IL-6, TNF, IL-17A, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (CSF), and granulocyte CSF, all of which tip the scales in favour of hyperinflammation; on the other hand, regulatory T cells, natural killer cells, and B cells secrete IL-15, IFN-α, -β, and -γ, IL-12, and 1L-21, which aid viral clearance and hence need to be spared.…”

Section: Repurposing Anticancer Drugs Against Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

Repurposing anticancer drugs for COVID-19-induced inflammation, immune dysfunction, and coagulopathy

et al. 2020

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SARS-COV-2 infection in patients with cancer undergoing checkpoint blockade: Clinical course and outcome

Cited by 22 publications

References 5 publications

Cancer Management during COVID-19 Pandemic: Is Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors-Based Immunotherapy Harmful or Beneficial?

Cancer Management during COVID-19 Pandemic: Is Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors-Based Immunotherapy Harmful or Beneficial?

Immune checkpoint inhibitors use and effects on prognosis of COVID-19 infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Repurposing anticancer drugs for COVID-19-induced inflammation, immune dysfunction, and coagulopathy

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