ABSTRACT
The outreach program "A scuola di Astroparticelle” was proposed in 2016 by the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN - Napoli Division) in collaboration with the Physics Department "Ettore Pancini” of the Federico II University in Napoli, CNR-SPIN and CNR-ISASI Institutes. Its main goal is to engage teachers and students of High Schools in astroparticle physics projects. For the third edition (2018/19), the activities, which are also part of the Italian Educational Program PCTO - "Percorsi per le Competenze Trasversali e per l'Orientamento”, involved 18 schools for a total of 21 projects on several topics. Some projects were strictly related to astroparticles as cosmic rays, while others were more technical, as the development of particle detectors, or cross-disciplinary projects. Students worked for the entire school year and prepared materials for the final event. More than 600 students attended the event and presented their work to a jury with a poster and an oral presentation in plenary sessions. Since 2018, the program is part of OCRA - Outreach Cosmic Ray Activities - a national outreach project of INFN with the aim of collecting, within a common framework, the numerous outreach activities in cosmic-ray field carried out at the local level. The fourth edition (2019-20), in spite of the difficult situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has also seen the participation of 22 schools that carried out part of the activities in an online format. The project realized using the open data of the Pierre Auger Observatory will be presented in detail. © Copyright owned by the author(s) under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
ABSTRACT
Background: Early phase clinical trials often represent a therapeutical opportunity for cancer patients (pts). However, high logistic commitment is demanded for participation. Here we explore the COVID-19 related risk during the pandemic for pts enrolled in clinical trials compared to pts receiving standard treatments. Methods: We retrospectively assessed the incidence of COVID-19 in pts treated in our Department from March 2020 to April 2021. Pts were divided into two groups;those enrolled in phase I/II clinical trials (A) and those being treated with standard therapies (B). Logistical (telemedicine and drug home-delivery), as well as clinical, characteristics of susceptibility to COVID-19 and number of events (SARS-CoV2 infections) were collected. The number of teleconsultations and COVID-19 events among the two groups were compared through Fisher’s exact test. Results: 115 pts were evaluated: 36 pts (31%) in A and 79 pts (69%) in B. Pts in A were younger, with a median age of 55 years (range 39-77) compared to 62 years (range 31-83) in B. Performance status (PS, ECOG) was similarly distributed: 0 (A 78%, B 83%), 1-2 (A 22%, B 17%). The median of previous treatment was 1 in A (range 0-9) and 2 (range 0-14) in B. The majority of the pts had at least one comorbidity in both groups (A: 72% and B: 83%). None of the pts had pulmonary comorbidity in A and 6% in B. Obesity was similarly distributed (A 11%, B 14%). The mean of monthly scheduled accesses was 1,5 in both groups. However, teleconsultation and delivery of oral cancer treatments at home were given, at least on one occasion, to only 6% of pts in A compared to 43% in B (p<0.01). A total of 15 COVID-19 cases were observed (13%): 8 (22%) in A and 7 (8%) in B. No statistically significant difference was observed (p = 0.068). Conclusions: Pts enrolled in early phase clinical trials had a significantly lower chance to perform teleconsultations compared to pts receiving standard therapy. Even if a trend was observed, they did not have a higher risk of contracting COVID-19. Future pts should then be encouraged to participate, if indicated. Considering the small numbers of pts in our cohorts, the foreseen trend toward a higher infection risk and the subsequent implications should be further explored in larger populations. Legal entity responsible for the study: The authors. Funding: Has not received any funding. Disclosure: G Curigliano: Financial Interests, Funding: Roche;Financial Interests, Funding: Novartis;Financial Interests, Funding: Lilly;Financial Interests, Funding: Pfizer;Financial Interests, Funding: Seattle Genetics. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
ABSTRACT
Background: cancer have been reported to experience severe complications and poor outcomes to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2)-related disease (COVID-19). Anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin-G (IgG) can be detected within three weeks after infection. However, scant information is available on the seroconversion rates of patients with cancer and COVID-19. Material: This is a multicenter, observational, prospective study that enrolled patients and oncology health professionals with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by RT-PCR assay, patients and oncology health professionals with clinical or radiological suspicious of infection by SARS-CoV-2, and patients with cancer who are considered at high risk for infection. All subjects were tested with the 2019-nCoV IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassett, which is a qualitative membrane-based immunoassay for the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. The aim of the study was to evaluate anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion rate in patients with cancer and healthcare professionals with confirmed or clinically suspected COVID-19. Results: Between March 30 and May 11, 2020, 166 subjects were enrolled in the study. Cancer patients and health workers were 61 (36.7%) and 105 (63.3%), respectively. Seventyfour subjects (44.6%) had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis by RT-PCR testing on nasopharyngeal swab specimen, while 49 (29.5%) had a clinical suspicious of COVID-19 in absence of RT-PCR confirmation. Median time between symptom onset/ RT-PCR confirmation to serum antibody test was 17 days (IQR, 26). Considering the population with confirmation by RT-PCR, 83.8% was IgG positive. Neither differences in terms of IgG positivity rate nor in median time from SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis to IgG detection were observed between cancer patients and health workers (87.9% vs 80.5%;P=0.39;23.0 vs 28.0 days;P=0.21). Conclusions: Our data indicate that SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibody detection does not differ between cancer patients and healthy subjects. Fast test for antibody detection can be complementary to RNA RT-PCR testing for the diagnosis of COVID-19 in this vulnerable patient population.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Patients with cancer have high risk for severe complications and poor outcome to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-related disease [coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)]. Almost all subjects with COVID-19 develop anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) within 3 weeks after infection. No data are available on the seroconversion rates of cancer patients and COVID-19. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, observational, prospective study that enrolled (i) patients and oncology health professionals with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by real-time RT-PCR assays on nasal/pharyngeal swab specimens; (ii) patients and oncology health professionals with clinical or radiological suspicious of infection by SARS-CoV-2; and (iii) patients with cancer who are considered at high risk for infection and eligible for active therapy and/or major surgery. All enrolled subjects were tested with the 2019-nCoV IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette, which is a qualitative membrane-based immunoassay for the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. The aim of the study was to evaluate anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion rate in patients with cancer and oncology health care professionals with confirmed or clinically suspected COVID-19. RESULTS: From 30 March 2020 to 11 May 2020, 166 subjects were enrolled in the study. Among them, cancer patients and health workers were 61 (36.7%) and 105 (63.3%), respectively. Overall, 86 subjects (51.8%) had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis by RT-PCR testing on nasopharyngeal swab specimen, and 60 (36.2%) had a clinical suspicious of COVID-19. Median time from symptom onset (for cases not confirmed by RT-PCR) or RT-PCR confirmation to serum antibody test was 17 days (interquartile range 26). In the population with confirmed RT-PCR, 83.8% of cases were IgG positive. No difference in IgG positivity was observed between cancer patients and health workers (87.9% versus 80.5%; P = 0.39). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibody detection do not differ between cancer patients and healthy subjects.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Neoplasms , Antibodies, Viral , Health Personnel , Humans , Immunoglobulin M , Neoplasms/epidemiology , Prospective Studies , SARS-CoV-2 , Sensitivity and Specificity , SeroconversionABSTRACT
Background: Poor outcomes for patients with cancer and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-related disease (COVID-19) have been reported so far. Although anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG response is usually detectable within three weeks after infection, limited information on the seroconversion rate of patients with cancer infected by SARS-CoV-2 is available. Methods: This is a multicenter, observational, prospective study that included patients and oncology healthcare workers (HCWs) with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by RT-PCR or clinical/radiological suspicious of infection as well as patients with cancer who are considered at high risk for infection. All subjects were tested with the 2019-nCoV IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassett for the fast detection of IgG and IgM antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. The aim of the study was to evaluate anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion rates by qualitative assay in patients with cancer and HCWs with confirmed or clinically suspected COVID-19. Results: At first interim analysis, 166 subjects were enrolled in the study. Cancer patients and HCWs were 61 (36.7%) and 105 (63.3%), respectively. HCWs were younger than patients with cancer (median age 41 vs 62 years;P<0.001). Eighty-six subjects (51.8%) had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis by RT-PCR testing on nasopharyngeal swab specimen, while forty-nine (29.5%) had a clinical suspicious of COVID-19 in absence of RT-PCR confirmation. In patients with RT-PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, 62 (83.8%) were IgG-positive. Neither differences in terms of IgG positivity (87.9% vs 80.5%;P=0.39) nor in median time from COVID-19 diagnosis to IgG detection (23.0 vs 28.0 days;P=0.21) were found between patients with cancer and HCWs. Conclusions: Our data show that SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibody response is not different between cancer patients and healthy subjects. Qualitative rapid test for antibody detection represents an useful support to RNA RT-PCR testing for the diagnosis of COVID-19 in high-risk populations, including patients with cancer. Legal entity responsible for the study: Istituto Europeo di Oncologia IRCCS. Funding: This work was partially supported by the Italian Ministry of Health with Ricerca Corrente and 5x1000 funds. MEDnoTE srl (Spin-off of University of Trieste) supported the present study by providing the rapid test used for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection. Disclosure: D.G. Generali: Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony, Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Novartis, Pfizer, Lilly. G. Curigliano: Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony: MSD;Advisory/Consultancy: Mylan, Daichii Sankyo;Advisory/Consultancy, Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony: Lilly, Pfizer, Merck, Foundation Medicine, Samsung, Celltrion;Advisory/Consultancy, Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony: Seattle Genetics, Nanostring;Advisory/Consultancy, Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony: Roche;Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony: Novartis, BMS;Honoraria (self): Ellipsis. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.