COVID-19

The overall mortality rate for patients with mantle cell lymphoma who contract COVID-19 is high, and mortality rates rise significantly in patients who are hospitalized or enter intensive care units, according to findings from a retrospective study that were published in Hemasphere.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network is advising individuals who are immunocompromised, including those with cancer, to receive a fifth COVID-19 vaccination.

The administration of a third dose of a SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine yielded seroconversion responses in patients treated with hematopoietic cell transplantation or cellular therapy following initial failure of seroconversion after the first 2 vaccine doses.

Administration of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine resulted in heterogeneous immune response in patients with chronic graft-vs-host disease (cGVHD), further highlighting concerns about protection against infection or severe COVID-19 disease in this population

CoVac-1, a multi-peptide COVID-19 vaccine, elicited promising T-cell activity and safety in patients with cancer who have disease- or treatment-related immunoglobulin deficiency.

Women of all races and ethnicities who were referred to a colposcopy clinic for cervical cancer screening following an abnormal Pap smear during the COVID-19 pandemic had a higher likelihood of not adhering to their appointment compared with appointment data collected prior to the pandemic.

Data from a retrospective observational study revealed that White patients with hematologic malignancies in the United States had significantly higher uptake of telemedicine vs Black patients, reflecting disparities that require further exploration.

Muhammad Bilal Abid, MD, MRCP, discusses clinical takeaways regarding the standard use of a third SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine dose among patients treated with hematopoietic cell transplantation, CAR T-cell therapy, and bispecific T-cell engagers.

The pandemic appears to have caused or contributed to a number of lasting changes in the way oncologists provide clinical care to their patients.

The US Senate has confirmed Robert M. Califf, MD, a prominent cardiologist and expert in clinical trials, as the latest FDA commissioner today in a 50-46 vote.

The long-term dramatic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer research and patient care present several challenges but also future opportunities.

Treatment with rituximab prior to COVID-19 vaccination nearly halved the number of patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma who developed blocking antibodies following COVID-19 vaccination compared with healthy controls.

Patients with cancer should be fully immunized against COVID-19, including third doses and/or any approved boosters.

Christopher S. Lathan, MD, MS, MPH, discusses the lack of dissemination and implementation of evidence-based health care delivery innovations focused on addressing disparities in care.

The long-acting antibody combination of tixagevimab co-packaged with cilgavimab has been granted emergency use authorization in the United States for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19.

A little self-reflection and a lot of self-compassion go a long way in a world of immense change.

At the onset of the pandemic, hematology/oncology physicians were challenged in counseling patients with serious underlying malignant conditions about their risk for severe disease due to COVID-19.

Mortality rates in patients with acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and myelodysplastic syndrome who were diagnosed with COVID-19 were higher compared with non-cancer populations who were infected with the virus.

Maurie Markman, MD, discusses how agency leaders should be encouraged to improve regulatory science, include a patient’s perspective in approval decisions, reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and costs associated with the conduct of trials, and accelerate the overall review process for drug approval.

Telemedicine solidified its role as a new standard in patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Three doses of the SARS-CoV2 vaccine were shown to be safe and effective in patients with lung cancer, particularly in those with minimal serologic response after receiving only 2 doses.

Patients with lymphoid malignancies, especially those who have received recent anti-CD20 antibody therapy, have reduced humoral responses to the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, and as such, should continue to take precautionary measures against COVID-19 infection irrespective of vaccination status.

Although mortality rates in patients with hematologic cancers who develop breakthrough COVID-19 cases after vaccination are high, there has been a significant decrease in incidence since vaccines have become available.

Although community oncologists and hematologists were concerned about loss of income during the COVID-19 pandemic, the loss of in-person patient interaction was cited as the key factor impacting their professional satisfaction.

The COVID-19 vaccine was safe and well tolerated in patients who received immune checkpoint inhibitors for renal cell carcinoma or melanoma.

As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, patients with cancer should receive the full vaccination with 1 of the 3 approved COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they are able, according to Steven Ludlow, PharmD, BCOP, BCPS.

Routine computed tomography-based imaging scans identified abnormal ground-glass opacities and infiltrates indicative of COVID-19 in patients with lung cancer undergoing radiation therapy, enabling earlier diagnosis, treatment, and risk reducing measures.

Although CAR T-cell therapies have demonstrated unprecedented activity in patients with heavily pretreated relapsed/refractory hematologic malignancies, they are marked by a significant risk of infections and may limit the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.

A proportion of patients with multiple myeloma receiving CD38-directed and BCMA-directed therapies had a lack of T-cell responses and an absence of anti–SARS-CoV-2 Spike antibodies following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, underscoring the need for serological testing after vaccination to identify these patients.

Maurie Markman, MD, highlights the ongoing regulatory concerns that demand attention of the FDA in the cancer arena amidst evolving issues regarding COVID-19.