Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected >210 million people worldwide. An optimal therapeutic approach for COVID-19 remains uncertain, to date. Since the history of cancer was linked to higher mortality rates due to COVID-19, the establishment of a safe and effective vaccine coverage is crucial in these patients. However, patients with cancer (PsC) were mostly excluded from vaccine candidates' clinical trials. This systematic review aims to investigate the current available evidence about the immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in PsC.
Patients and Methods: All prospective studies that evaluated the safety and efficacy of vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were included, with immunogenicity after the first and the second dose as the primary endpoint, when available.
Results: Vaccination against COVID-19 for PsC seems overall safe and immunogenic after well-conducted vaccination schedules. Yet the seroconversion rate remains lower, lagged or both compared to the general population. Patients with hematologic malignancies, especially those receiving B-cell-depleting agents in the past 12 months, are the most at risk of poor seroconversion.
Conclusion: A tailored approach to vaccination may be proposed to PsC, especially on the basis of the type of malignancy and of the specific oncologic treatments received.
Competing Interests: Disclosure FS reports consulting fees from AMGEN, Roche, Chugai, Mylan, Mundi Pharma, Leo Pharma, Pierre Fabre Oncology, Helsinn, MSD, Pfizer and BMS, all outside the submitted work. JPS has received personal fees as a speaker or consultant from Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Gilead, Leo Pharma, Daiichi, Mylan, BMS, MSD, Pierre Fabre, GSK (Abbvie), Roche, Novartis and Lilly. As part of the Drug Development Department (DITEP), J-M.M reports: principal/sub-Investigator of Clinical Trials for Abbvie, Adaptimmune, Adlai Nortye USA Inc., Aduro Biotech, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Amgen, Argen-X Bvba, Astex Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca Ab, Aveo, Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd., Bayer Healthcare Ag, Bbb Technologies Bv, Beigene, BicycleTx Ltd, Blueprint Medicines, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ca, Celgene Corporation, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co, Clovis Oncology, Cullinan-Apollo, Curevac, Daiichi Sankyo, Debiopharm, Eisai, Eisai Limited, Eli Lilly, Exelixis, Faron Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Forma Tharapeutics, Gamamabs, Genentech, Glaxosmithkline, H3 Biomedicine, Hoffmann La Roche Ag, Imcheck Therapeutics, Innate Pharma, Institut De Recherche Pierre Fabre, Iris Servier, Iteos Belgium SA, Janssen Cilag, Janssen Research Foundation, Kura Oncology, Kyowa Kirin Pharm. Dev, Lilly France, Loxo Oncology, Lytix Biopharma As, Medimmune, Menarini Ricerche, Merck Sharp & Dohme Chibret, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Merus, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Molecular Partners Ag, Nanobiotix, Nektar Therapeutics, Novartis Pharma, Octimet Oncology Nv, Oncoethix, Oncopeptides, Orion Pharma, Ose Pharma, Pfizer, Pharma Mar, Pierre Fabre, Medicament, Roche, Sanofi Aventis, Seattle Genetics, Sotio A.S, Syros Pharmaceuticals, Taiho Pharma, Tesaro, Turning Point Therapeutics and Xencor; research grants from AstraZeneca, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, GSK, INCA, Janssen Cilag, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche and Sanofi; and non-financial support (drug supplied) from AstraZeneca, Bayer, BMS, Boringher Ingelheim, GSK, Medimmune, Merck, NH TherAGuiX, Pfizer and Roche. J.-M.M. also reports other support from AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly Oncology, b. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd, Merck, MSD, Pfizer and Regeneron, outside this work. FA reports grants from Novartis, grants from Pfizer, grants from Roche, grants from Daiichi, grants from Eli Lilly and grants from AstraZeneca, all outside the submitted work. GC served as consultant or advisor for Roche, Lilly and Bristol-Myers Squibb, served on the speaker's bureau for Roche, Pfizer and Lilly, received travel funding from Pfizer and Roche, and received honoraria from Roche, Pfizer, Lilly, Novartis, AstraZeneca and SEAGEN, all outside the submitted work. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
(Copyright © 2021 European Society for Medical Oncology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)