ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines in cancer patients, especially during their active treatment, are lacking. Most of the studies in the literature compared the immunity in cancer patients with a cross-sectional cohort or retrospectively. Our study investigated Sinovac-CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity and compared it with natural COVID-19 disease in cancer patients during their cancer therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 111 patients with cancer and who are on active treatment were included in the study. This is a single-center study and was designed prospectively. Two group of patients were included in the study, natural disease and vaccinated group. RESULTS: A total of 111 patients were included in the study, 34 of whom had natural COVID-19 disease. Antibody levels following the first dose vaccine were 0.4 (0-1.9) U/ml while after the second dose of vaccine were 2.6 (1.0-7.25) U/ml. Immunogenicity levels were 82.4% in the natural disease group and 75.8% in the vaccinated group after the second shot of the vaccine. Immunogenicity rate was significantly higher in non-chemotherapy (receiving immunotehrapy/targeted therapy or biologic agent) group compared to chemotherapy drug (92.9% vs. 63.3%, p=0.004). There was a difference between the antibody levels following the first and second vaccination [median (IQR): 0.3 (0-1.0) and 3.3 (2.0-6.7), p=0.001, respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed that the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine showed an acceptable immunogenicity following two shots in cancer patients who were receiving active systemic therapy. On the other hand, natural disease immunogenicity was higher than vaccinated group.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Neoplasms , Vaccines , Humans , COVID-19 Vaccines , Cross-Sectional Studies , Retrospective Studies , COVID-19/prevention & control , Neoplasms/drug therapyABSTRACT
Introduction: The outbreak of the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become the most significant global health threat in the World. We do not have well-established guidelines for cancer patients. We aimed to clarify chemotherapy's oncologic outcomes in patients with active cancer and asymptomatic COVDI 19 disease. Material and methods: This study is single-center research and designed prospectively. Only patients who were receiving intravenous systemic chemotherapy were selected and tested for COVID19 Results: During the peak period of the COVID-19 pandemic for Turkey, we started the study and analyzed 198 patients. Eighty (40%) patients were male, and 118 (60%) patients were female. Following the analysis, there was no nasal and pharyngeal swab specimen PCR positive patient, but 7 (3.5%) of 199 patients had blood antibody test positive and received their regular chemotehrapies. No patient died during the 90 days follow up. Conclusions: Even though we cannot generalize, emergent chemotherapies can administered to the COVID-19 patients if the patient did not have any symptoms for COVID-19. © 2021 A. CARBONE Editore. All rights reserved.