Learning through a Pandemic: The Current State of Knowledge on COVID-19 and Cancer
Arielle Elkrief, Julie Wu, Chinmay Jani, Kyle T. Enriquez, Michael Glover, Mansi Shah, Hira Shaikh, Alicia Beeghly‐Fadiel, Benjamin French, Sachin R. Jhawar, Douglas B. Johnson, Rana R. McKay, Donna R. Rivera, Daniel Y. Reuben, Surbhi Shah, Stacey Tinianov, Donald C. Vinh, Sanjay Mishra, Jeremy L. Warner
Abstract
The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has left patients with current or past history of cancer facing disparate consequences at every stage of the cancer trajectory. This comprehensive review offers a landscape analysis of the current state of the literature on COVID-19 and cancer, including the immune response to COVID-19, risk factors for severe disease, and impact of anticancer therapies. We also review the latest data on treatment of COVID-19 and vaccination safety and efficacy in patients with cancer, as well as the impact of the pandemic on cancer care, including the urgent need for rapid evidence generation and real-world study designs. SIGNIFICANCE: Patients with cancer have faced severe consequences at every stage of the cancer journey due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This comprehensive review offers a landscape analysis of the current state of the field regarding COVID-19 and cancer. We cover the immune response, risk factors for severe disease, and implications for vaccination in patients with cancer, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care delivery. Overall, this review provides an in-depth summary of the key issues facing patients with cancer during this unprecedented health crisis.