ABSTRACT
For the last few months, various geographical regions and health sectors have been facing challenges posed by the current COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has led to significant disruption in the normal functioning of potentially life-saving therapies of hematopoietic cell transplant and chimeric antigen receptor therapy. As transplant physicians are gaining more information and experience regarding the undertaking of these complex procedures during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we believe it is important to discuss the challenges faced, prognostic risk factors, and outcomes of COVID-19 in post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients based on the available real-world data.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a major setback in both the health and economic sectors across the globe. The scale of the problem is enormous because we still do not have any specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 antiviral agent or vaccine. The human immune system has never been exposed to this novel virus, so the viral interactions with the human immune system are completely naive. New approaches are being studied at various levels, including animal in vitro models and human-based studies, to contain the COVID-19 pandemic as soon as possible. Many drugs are being tested for repurposing, but so far only remdesivir has shown some positive benefits based on preliminary reports, but these results also need further confirmation via ongoing trials. Otherwise, no other agents have shown an impactful response against COVID-19. Recently, research exploring the therapeutic application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in critically ill patients suffering from COVID-19 has gained momentum. The patients belonging to this subset are most likely beyond the point where they could benefit from an antiviral therapy because most of their illness at this stage of disease is driven by inflammatory (over)response of the immune system. In this review, we discuss the potential of MSCs as a therapeutic option for patients with COVID-19, based on the encouraging results from the preliminary data showing improved outcomes in the progression of COVID-19 disease.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/pathology , COVID-19/therapy , Cytokine Release Syndrome/prevention & control , Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation/methods , SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/virology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/virology , COVID-19/diagnosis , COVID-19/mortality , Critical Illness , Cytokine Release Syndrome/immunology , Cytokine Release Syndrome/mortality , Cytokine Release Syndrome/virology , Cytokines/antagonists & inhibitors , Cytokines/genetics , Cytokines/immunology , Dendritic Cells/immunology , Dendritic Cells/virology , Disease Progression , Humans , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/cytology , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/immunology , Severity of Illness Index , Survival Analysis , Treatment OutcomeSubject(s)
Betacoronavirus , Blood Donors/supply & distribution , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Blood Banks/methods , Blood Banks/organization & administration , Blood Donors/psychology , Blood Transfusion , COVID-19 , Convalescence , Coronavirus Infections/prevention & control , Coronavirus Infections/therapy , Health Services Needs and Demand , Humans , Immunization, Passive , Infection Control/methods , Pandemics/prevention & control , Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control , SARS-CoV-2 , Tissue and Organ Procurement/methods , Tissue and Organ Procurement/trends , COVID-19 SerotherapySubject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/diet therapy , Neoplasms/diet therapy , Nutritional Status , Pneumonia, Viral/diet therapy , COVID-19 , Coronavirus Infections/complications , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus Infections/virology , Humans , Malnutrition/epidemiology , Neoplasms/complications , Neoplasms/epidemiology , Neoplasms/virology , Nutritionists , Oncologists , Pandemics , Patients , Pneumonia, Viral/complications , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Viral/virologyABSTRACT
Currently world is fighting with global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). At this time of uncertainty, oncologists are struggling to provide appropriate care to cancer patients. They have to weigh risk and benefit of giving cancer treatment vs chances of getting them infected with COVID-19. As cancer patients are immunocompromised and there are high chances of exposure during hospital visits and if they get infected, outcome can be fatal. So through the column of this article, we would like to provide basic guideline in management of cancer patients during COVID-19 pandemic.