COVID-19 in patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms: Preliminary results of a worldwide survey (The INTENSIVE study)

Fazio, Nicola; Gervaso, Lorenzo; Halfdanarson, Thorvadur R.; La Salvia, Anna; Hofland, Johannes; Hernando, Jorge; Sonbol, Mohamad B.; Garcia-Carbonero, Rocio; Capdevila, Jaume; de Herder, Wouter W.; Koumarianou, Anna; Kaltsas, Gregory; Rossi, Maura; Grozinsky-Glasberg, Simona; Oleinikov, Kira; Boselli, Sabrina; Tamayo, Darina; Bagnardi, Vincenzo; Laffi, Alice; Rubino, Manila; Spada, Francesca

BACKGROUND: Specific data regarding COVID-19 in patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) are lacking. This aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of NEN patients who tested SARS-CoV-2 positive. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a worldwide study collecting cases of NEN patients with a positive nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 between June 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021. Centers treating NEN patients were directly contacted by the principal investigator. Patients with NEN of any primary site, grade, and stage were included, excluding small-cell lung carcinoma and mixed adeno-neuroendocrine carcinoma. RESULTS: Among 81 centers directly contacted 88.8% responded and 48.6% of them declined due to lack of cases or interest. On March 31(st), 2021, eight recruiting centers enrolled 89 patients. Median age was 64 years at the COVID-19 diagnosis. Most patients had metastatic, non-functioning, low/intermediate grade gastro-entero-pancreatic (GEP) NEN, on treatment with somatostatin analogs (SSA) and radioligand therapy (RLT). Most of them had comorbidities. Only 8% of patients had high grade NEN and 12% were receiving chemotherapy. Most patients had symptoms or signs of COVID-19, mainly fever and cough. Only 3 patients underwent sub-intensive treatment, whereas the majority received medical therapies, mostly antibiotics. In two third of cases, no changes occurred for the anti-NEN therapy. More than 80% of patients completely recovered without sequelae whereas 7.8% patients died due to COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Patients included in this study reflect the typical NEN population regardless of SARS-CoV-2. In the majority of cases they overcome COVID-19 without need of intensive care, short-term sequelae and discontinuation of systemic oncological therapy.