Abstract 1702P
Background
In the midst of COVID-19 pandemic, cancer patients (pts) are regarded as a highly vulnerable population. Pts requiring hospital admission for treatment (Tx) administration are potentially exposed to a higher risk of infection and worse outcome given the multiple in-hospital exposures and the Tx immunosuppressive effects.
Methods
COVINT is an observational study assessing COVID-19 incidence among pts receiving anticancer Tx in the outpatient clinic of the Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano. All consecutive pts with non-hematologic malignancies treated with intravenous or subcutaneous/intramuscular Tx in the outpatient clinic were enrolled. Pts were admitted to the clinic wearing surgical masks and only if asymptomatic and afebrile. The primary endpoint is the rate of occurrence of COVID-19. Secondary endpoints include the rate of COVID-19 related deaths and Tx interruptions. The association between clinical and biological characteristics and COVID-19 occurrence is also evaluated using nonparametric tests. COVID-19 diagnosis is defined as: a) certain if confirmed by RT-PCR assay of nasopharyngeal swabs (NFS); b) suspected in case of new symptoms and/or CT scan evidence of interstitial pneumonia with negative/not performed NFS; c) negative in case of neither symptoms nor radiological evidence.
Results
In the first two months (16th February-10th April 2020) of observation, 1083 pts were included. Of these, 11 (1%) were confirmed and 73 (6.7%) suspected for COVID-19. No significant differences in terms of cancer and Tx type emerged between the three subgroups. Prophylactic use of myeloid growth factors was adopted in 5.3%, 2.7% and 0% of COVID-19-free, -suspected and -confirmed pts (p=0.003). Overall, 96 (8.9%) pts delayed Tx as a precaution for the pandemic. Among the 11 confirmed cases, 6 (55%) died of COVID-19 complications, and anticancer Tx was restarted in only one.
Conclusions
During the pandemic peak, accurate protective measures successfully resulted in low rates of COVID-19 diagnosis, though with high lethality. Within the COVINT study, prospective pts surveillance will continue with NFS swabs and IgG/IgM serology performed before each Tx cycle until pandemic resolution.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
F.G.M. De Braud: Advisory/Consultancy: Tiziana Life Sciences; Advisory/Consultancy, Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony, Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: BMS; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Celgene; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Novartis; Advisory/Consultancy: Servier; Advisory/Consultancy: Pharm Research Associated; Advisory/Consultancy: Daiichi Sankyo; Advisory/Consultancy, Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony: Ignyta; Advisory/Consultancy, Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Amgen; Advisory/Consultancy, Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony, Research grant/Funding (institution): Pfizer; Advisory/Consultancy: Octimet Oncology; Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Incyte; Advisory/Consultancy: Pierre Fabre; Advisory/Consultancy: Eli Lilly; Advisory/Consultancy, Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony, Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Roche; Advisory/Consultancy: Astra Zeneca; Advisory/Consultancy: Gentili; Advisory/Consultancy, Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony: Dephaforum; Advisory/Consultancy, Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony, Research grant/Funding (institution): MSD; Advisory/Consultancy, Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony: Bayer; Advisory/Consultancy: Fondazione Menarini; Research grant/Funding (self): NMS; Research grant/Funding (institution): Merck KGAA; Research grant/Funding (institution): Kymab; Research grant/Funding (institution): Tesaro; Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony: Biotechespert Ltd; Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony: Prime Oncology. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.