SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence and safety of vaccines in cancer patients who recovered from COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Background: Little is known about natural anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence post COVID-19 and safety of vaccines in COVID-19 survivors with cancer. Methods: Among 2795 consecutive patients (pts) with COVID-19 and cancer registered to OnCovid between 01/2020 and 02/2021, we examined natural seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies (SC2Ab, IgM or IgG) in pts tested post-infection. We analysed prevalence and safety of SARS-Cov-2 vaccine administration in pts who underwent clinical re-assessment at participating institutions. Results: Out of 350 pts tested for SC2Ab, 318 (90.9%) had a positive SC2Ab titre post-convalescence. Neither baseline features (sex, age, comorbidities, smoking history, tumour stage/status, anticancer-therapy and primary tumour) nor COVID-19-specific features (complications, hospitalization, sequelae) were significantly associated SC2Ab status. Receipt of COVID-19 specific therapy was higher among SC2Ab+ pts (62.6% vs 40.6%, p=0.0156). Out of 593 pts with known vaccination status, 178 (30%) had received 1 dose, whilst 38 pts (6.4%) received 2 doses of mRNA based (70.2%) or viral vector vaccine (17.4%). Vaccinated pts were more likely aged ≥65 years (59% vs 48.3%, p=0.0172), with loco-regional tumour stage (56% vs 40.8%, p=0.0014), on anti-cancer therapy at COVID-19 (49.1% vs 38.2%, p=0.0168) and history of prior hospitalisation due to COVID-19 (61.8% vs 48.3%, p=0.0029). Vaccine-related adverse events were reported for 18/56 evaluable pts (32.1%) and included injection site reactions (50%), fever (44.4%), arthralgias (33.3%), fatigue (33.3%) and allergy (5.5%). No long-term vaccine-related morbidity was reported. Conclusions: We report high seroprevalence (>90%) of SC2Ab in convalescent cancer pts who survived COVID-19 irrespective of baseline demographics, oncological characteristics and COVID-19 severity. COVID-19 vaccines appear to be safe in cancer pts with history of prior infection. Clinical trial identification NCT04393974. Legal entity responsible for the study Imperial College London. Funding: Has not received any funding. Disclosure D.J. Pinato Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker ViiV Healthcare;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker Bayer;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board Eisai;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board Amgen;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board BMS;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board Pfizer;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board Nanostring tech. A. Cortellini Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board MSD;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board BMS;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board Roche;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker Novartis;Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board SunPharma;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker AstraZeneca;Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker Astellas. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.