Abstract 3525
Background
Influenza (flu) virus infection has a significant morbidity and mortality in excess of 5-10% especially in patients with medical co-morbidities who are also immune-suppressed. Influenza vaccination decreases all-cause mortality by about 30-50%. Patients undergoing chemotherapy along with the general public are vaccinated annually; there has been no study to assess the efficacy of influenza vaccination in these groups (patients on chemotherapy- POCT).
Methods
This is a prospective single arm, phase II open label study. 53 POCT with non-haematological cancers were recruited between 2011 and 2012 influenza seasons. POCT vaccinated in the current influenza season were excluded. Participants had one dose of 2011/2012 trivalent FluVax containing strains A/California/7/2009(H1N1); A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2); B/Brisbane/60/2008 at least 3 days before chemotherapy. Primary endpoint was early seroconversion (SC) rate at 3weeks; other end-points were late SC rate at 6weeks; sustained SC and sero-protection (SP) at 24 weeks. Haem-agglutination inhibition (HAI) titres in serum were measured at baseline, 3, 6 and 24 weeks. Endpoint defined as SP (HAI ≥ 40); SC (≥4-fold increase titre).
Results
53 patients; mean (sd) age 58.3(10.5) years; n(%) of Females 31(58.5). The results are displayed in the table below.
| Proportion N (%) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 3weeks | 6weeks | 6months | |
| Seroconversion | ||||
| A/California/7/2009 (H1N1) | 0 | 14 (35%) | 14 (31.8%) | 3 (7.5%) |
| A/Perth/16/2009(H3N2) | 0 | 12 (30%) | 12 (27.3%) | 7 (17.5%) |
| B/Brisbane/60/2008 | 0 | 9 (22.5%) | 8 (18.2%) | 3 (7.5%) |
| Seroprotection | ||||
| A/California/7/2009 (H1N1) | 23 (47.9%) | 30 (75%) | 33(75%) | 16 (40%) |
| A/Perth/16/2009(H3N2) | 19 (39.58%) | 26 (65%) | 26 (59.1%) | 21 (52.5%) |
| B/Brisbane/60/2008 | 17 (42.5%) | 17 (42.5%) | 14 (31.8%) | 8 (20%) |
Conclusions
POCT might have sub-optimal response to the FluVax. Our findings should be confirmed in a larger patient population and warrants further research into a more effective strategy in this patient group.
Clinical trial identification
ACTRN:12611000306910
Legal entity responsible for the study
Southern Adelaide Health Network Inc
Funding
N/A
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.