Genitourinary medical oncology expert opinion survey regarding treatment management in COVID-19 pandemic

Sarfaty, Michal; Feldman, Darren R.; Morris, Michael J.; Motzer, Robert J.; Rathkopf, Dana E.; Regazzi, Ashley M.; Iyer, Gopa; Voss, Martin H.; Bajorin, Dean F.; Rosenberg, Jonathan E.

BACKGROUND: The worldwide COVID-19 public health pandemic has restructured clinical care of cancer patients throughout the world. The specific changes in the management of genitourinary (GU) cancers in different cancer centers due to COVID-19 are not known and some clinical scenarios remain controversial. We conducted an opinion survey to determine what changes in cancer treatment strategies are occurring due to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A 20-item online survey was sent on 05/25/20 to 170 expert GU medical oncologists from Europe and North America. The survey solicited responses to changes in GU cancer management in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected and managed via a secure REDCap Database. RESULTS: Surveys were completed by 78 (45.8%) of 170 GU oncologists between 05/25/20 and 06/25/20. Clinical practice changes due to COVID-19 in at least one scenario were reported by 79.1% of responders, most pronounced in prostate cancer (71.8%) and least in urothelial cancer (23%). Preferences for change in management varied by country with 78% of US oncologists indicating a change in their practice (37/47), 57% for Canadian oncologists (4/7) and 79% in Europe (19/24). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests international practice changes are occurring in GU cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The variability in practice changes between countries may reflect differences in COVID-19 case load during the timepoint of data collection. These results, based on expert opinion during this rapidly changing crisis, may inform the oncologic community regarding the effects of COVID-19 on genitourinary cancer care.