News in COVID-19

Passive immunisation with tixagevimab and cilgavimab may not be effective

From the World Conference on Lung Cancer 2022:
Around a fifth of patients with thoracic cancer die within 30 days of COVID-19 infection but the risk is not predicted by recent receipt of systematic treatment for their malignancy

Very suboptimal vaccine responses generated by subset of patients with non-small cell lung cancer cannot be explained solely by older age and type of vaccine

Patients with cancer, especially haematologic malignancies, are at higher risk for developing breakthrough infections and severe outcomes  

Findings from the first population-based study to examine SARS-CoV-2 infections in survivors of childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer compared with matched population controls

Most patients were on active anticancer treatment during the 28 days before the administration of third dose

Findings from the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium cohort study 

The rate of negative antibody results highest among patients with lymphoid neoplasms

Updated results of the Vax-On study favour the third vaccine dose for actively treated patients with cancer 

Patients with cancer who survive COVID-19 may develop long-term sequelae that can disrupt oncological treatment and shorten survival

Third vaccine dose could be immunologically beneficial for patients on active chemotherapy

Findings from the largest study to measure anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels after vaccination in patients with haematological and solid malignant tumours

From the ESMO Congress 2021:
The CAPTURE study has characterised functional immune responses in people with cancer following SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination

Findings from the Vax-On study show a favourable safety profile of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine in patients with solid tumours during active anticancer treatment

From the ESMO Congress 2021:
Most solid tumour patients recently given chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy will achieve an adequate antibody response to COVID-19 vaccination

First concrete results presented at the ESMO Congress 2021 confirm need to promote vaccination in patients with cancer

A global hospital-based registry sheds light on the outcomes of children and adolescents with cancer and COVID-19

The seroconversion rate in response to full vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 was low in a single-centre study of adults with haematological malignancies

Findings from an analysis of the clinical efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination in a large series of patients with cancer

Axillary adenopathy may be present in women who undergo mammography within 90 days of COVID-19 vaccination

An ESMO Women for Oncology survey warns the health crisis is widening the gender gap as data shows that female oncologists have managed to dedicate less time to science during and after lockdowns

No seroconversion found upon a single dose in elderly cancer patients and those treated with chemotherapy, a reason for not extending the period between the two injections

Cancer patients should be given their second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine 21 days after their first to ensure protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection

The BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine has a similar profile of short-term side effects for cancer patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and healthy individuals

Changes were made in the delivery of radical radiotherapy across the UK in response to COVID-19 adapted guidelines

More patients diagnosed with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer presented with brain metastases compared to historic rates

A deep-learning algorithm can help to discriminate radiation pneumonitis from COVID-19 pneumonia

Findings from the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium

Results from a cross-sectional survey in France

Use of radiotherapy changed significantly in England during the first COVID-19 wave

Use of systemic treatments by cancer patients in England fell in April 2020 but surged in June 2020

Dutch registry findings describe the effect of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on cancer patients and the general population

Systemic inflammation is a key driver of mortality in SARS-CoV-2 in cancer patients and biomarkers of inflamation may be used to identify patients at increased risk

IgG antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection may be comparable among cancer patients and healthy oncology healthcare workers

Interim results of the SAKK 80/20 CaSA study suggest around 18% of Swiss cancer patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection have died

Online surveys have revealed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wellbeing of oncology professionals

Literature analysis suggests that approximately 25% of cancer patients with COVID-19 have died

Low SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in both, oncology healthcare workers and cancer patients require continuation of strict safety measures

ESMO has taken the decision due to the uncertain evolution of the Coronavirus pandemic in the Asia-Pacific region and to avoid any risks to the health of the Faculty, delegates and staff.

UK data suggest the risk of acquiring COVID-19 and the severity of infection differ by the type of cancer

Findings from a systematic review and meta-analysis

Haematological malignancy patients with COVID-19 may have a high mortality rate

Findings from a large regional analysis of population that examined the prevalence of cancer and clinical outcomes of viral infection

Findings from a large testing study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Vienna

An experience of the Drug Development Department of the Gustave Roussy

Restrictive measures to control the spread of COVID-19 have adverse effect on continuation of radiotherapy in patients with cancer

In Annals of Oncology, ESMO’s comprehensive set of recommendations address open questions on how to manage cancer care in the COVID-19 era

Modelling studies predict the outcome of COVID-19 pandemic-related cancer diagnostic delays in England