Diagnostic, Clinical and Post-SARS-CoV-2 Scenarios in Cancer Patients with SARS-CoV-2: Retrospective Analysis in Three German Cancer Centers

Shumilov, Evgenii; Hoffknecht, Petra; Koch, Raphael; Peceny, Rudolf; Voigt, Steffen; Schmidt, Nicole; Peeck, Micha; Bacher, Ulrike; Scheithauer, Simone; Trümper, Lorenz; Lenz, Georg; Kerkhoff, Andrea; Bleckmann, Annalen

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The study investigated diagnostic, clinical and post-SARS-CoV-2 scenarios in cancer patients with SARS-CoV-2 aiming to improve management of SARS-CoV-2 infections and cancer afterwards. Around half of patients were initially asymptomatic and were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 during routine or contact tracing screening. Of them, 33% developed COVID-19 lately. Eventually, predominant part of patients had asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 or mild COVID-19 course. Lymphocytopenia preceding SARS-CoV-2 was associated with a significantly increased risk for severe or critical COVID-19 course. Commonly patients experienced a treatment delay post-SARS-CoV-2; one fifth developed progressive disease (PD) within that time and/or had to undergo therapy modifications following deterioration of the performance status or PD post-COVID-19. This study provides knowledge of real-life clinical courses of SARS-CoV-2 in oncology and contributes to improving therapeutic strategies for cancer patients in the COVID-19 pandemic. ABSTRACT: Oncologists face challenges in the management of SARS-CoV-2 infections and post-SARS-CoV-2 cancer treatment. We analyzed diagnostic, clinical and post-SARS-CoV-2 scenarios in patients from three German cancer centers with RT-PCR confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Sixty-three patients with SARS-CoV-2 and hematologic or solid neoplasms were included. Thirty patients were initially asymptomatic, 10 of whom developed COVID-19 symptoms subsequently. Altogether 20 (32%) patients were asymptomatic, 18 (29%) had mild, 12 (19%) severe and 13 (20%) critical courses. Lymphocytopenia increased risk of severe/critical COVID-19 three-fold (p = 0.015). Asymptomatic course was not associated with age, remission status, therapies or co-morbidities. Secondary bacterial infection accompanied more than one third of critical COVID-19 cases. Treatment was delayed post-SARS-CoV-2 in 46 patients, 9 of whom developed progressive disease (PD). Cancer therapy was modified in 8 SARS-CoV-2 survivors because of deteriorating performance or PD. At the last follow-up, 17 patients had died from COVID-19 (n = 8) or PD (n = 9) giving an estimated 73% four-month overall survival rate. SARS-CoV-2 infection has a heterogenous course in cancer patients. Lymphocytopenia carries a significant risk of severe/critical COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 disruption of therapy is as serious as SARS-CoV-2 infection itself. Careful surveillance will allow early restart of the anti-cancer treatment.