Abstract 1746P
Background
Higher incidence of severe events in cancer pts affected by COVID-19 have been reported. However, the association with oncological treatments is not clear yet. Recommendations have been released by Italian scientific society and colleges (AIOM, CIPOMO, COMU) according to the risk of infection and tumor characteristics, suggesting telephone consultations and, if suitable, treatments delay.
Methods
In Modena and Reggio Emilia Cancer Centers, previous Ethical Committee approval, medical reports of pts undertaking immunotherapy between January 1st - April 30th 2020 were collected. According to WHO indications COVID-19 infection was identified by thoracic CT scan and RT-PCR of nasopharyngeal specimens. For those pts we estimated the risk of infection and complications that lead to hospitalization.
Results
A total of 337 pts with solid tumors treated with anti-PD1/PDL-1 antibody regardless the line of treatment was identified. Cancer diagnosis included 156 (46,3%) lung, 74 (22%) melanoma, 36 (10,7%) kidney, 23 (7%) colorectal, 12 (3,4%) head and neck, 36 (10,6%) miscellaneous. Only 3 pts (0.9%), with advanced disease and in first line therapy were hospitalized for COVID-19 (Table). The onset symptom was fever in 2 pts, and subjective dyspnea in 1 pt. Subsequently, they develop respiratory distress and underwent to non-invasive assisted ventilation, receiving hydroxychloroquine, steroids, low molecular weight heparin. Tocilizumab was administered in 1 pt due to progressive increase of serum IL-6 values. Nobody was admitted in Intensive Care Unit. Since the last update, May 15th 2020, 1 pt died; the others have recovered with negative nasopharyngeal swab. Table: 1746P
| Site primary tumor/Lung metastasis | Age (ys) | Gender | 1st Line Regimens | Smoker (Never=N Former=F) | Hospitalization (days) | Pulmonary infection involvement (%) | Death |
| Colon/no | 40 | Female | Atezolizumab FOLFOXIRI Bevacizumab | N | 16 | 20-40 | No |
| Kidney/yes | 76 | Male | Nivolumab Ipilimumab | N | 14 | 10 | Yes |
| Pleura/yes | 65 | Male | Pembrolizumab Cisplatin Pemetrexed | F | 65 | 10 | No |
Conclusions
Although not conclusive, in our series, cancer pts infected by COVID-19 receiving immunotherapy do not appear to be exposed to greater risk of recovery.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
Angela Damato.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.