Gambichler, T.* ; Reuther, J.* ; Scheel, C. ; Susok, L.* ; Kern, P.* ; Becker, J.C.*
Cancer and immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in the era of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Cancers 12:3383 (2020)
Whether cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are at an increased risk of severe infection and mortality during the corona pandemic is a hotly debated topic that will continue to evolve. Here, we summarize and discuss current studies regarding COVID-19 and anti-cancer treatment with an emphasis on ICI. Importantly, several lines of evidence suggest that patients currently treated with ICI do not display an increased vulnerability to infection with SARS-CoV-2. Data regarding morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 in cancer patients receiving ICI are less clear and often conflicting. Although mostly based on experimental data, it is possible that ICI can promote the exacerbated immune response associated with adverse outcome in COVID-19 patients. On the other hand, mounting evidence suggests that ICI might even be useful in the treatment of viral infections by preventing or ameliorating T cell exhaustion. In this context, the right timing of treatment might be essential. Nevertheless, some cancer patients treated with ICI experience autoimmune-related side effects that require the use of immunosuppressive therapies, which in turn may promote a severe course of infection with SARS-CoV-2. Although there is clear evidence that withholding ICI will have more serious consequences, further studies are urgently needed in to better evaluate the effects of ICI in patients with COVID-19 and the use of ICI during the corona pandemic in general.
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Publication type
Article: Journal article
Document type
Review
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Keywords
Coronavirus ; Covid-19 ; Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Antigen-4 ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ; Programmed Cell Death Protein; Coronavirus Disease 2019; Clinical Characteristics; Covid-19; Mortality; Risk; Immunopathology; Blockade; Patient
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Language
english
Publication Year
2020
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HGF-reported in Year
2020
ISSN (print) / ISBN
2072-6694
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Volume: 12,
Issue: 11,
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Article Number: 3383
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MDPI
Publishing Place
St Alban-anlage 66, Ch-4052 Basel, Switzerland
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Reviewing status
Peer reviewed
POF-Topic(s)
30204 - Cell Programming and Repair
Research field(s)
Stem Cell and Neuroscience
PSP Element(s)
G-500890-001
Grants
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Copyright
Erfassungsdatum
2020-12-01