People in active treatment for cancer can be at greater risk of severe infection from COVID-19. We keep track of articles and studies that can inform your work related to COVID-19, vaccine promotion, and the effects on patients with cancer. See below for a few recent highlights:
| Study Finds Up to 15% of Patients With Cancer Experience “Long Haul” COVID-19 (The ASCO Post) A new study explores how COVID-19 infection impacts patients with cancer and cancer treatment. Global characteristics and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents with cancer: a cohort study (The Lancet) In kids with cancer infected with COVID-19, 20% experienced a severe critical infection and ~4% of all patients died—considerably greater than the general pediatric population with COVID, according to a study published in the Lancet Oncology of 1,500 cancer patients in 45 countries. Read related news coverage from Medpage Today and NPR. Association of COVID-19 Lockdown With the Tumor Burden in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (JAMA Network Open) In this cohort study of 80 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, the tumor burden appeared to be significantly higher in patients who received a diagnosis after lockdown compared with those who were diagnosed before lockdown. Patients with greater tumor burden had lower median survival than those with lower tumor burden. COVID-19 Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) CDC guidance on COVID-19 vaccines for people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems. These patients are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 and may not build the same level of immunity to 2-dose vaccine series compared to people who are not immunocompromised. Antibody Response to COVID-19 Vaccination in Adults With Hematologic Malignant Disease (JAMA Oncology) This retrospective study examines the vaccine response in vaccinated adults with hematologic cancers between February and April 2021. The findings raise concerns that patients who have hematologic cancers may not have sufficient protection from vaccination and can potentially develop serious, potentially fatal, illness. Measures such as masking, social distancing, screening, and prioritizing vaccination for family members and caregivers should be considered to protect these patients. Recommendations of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network COVID-19 Vaccination Advisory Committee (National Comprehensive Cancer Network) This updated guidance includes additional information on the third mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose for people with cancer. |
| View more on our COVID-19 and Cancer resource page. |