Abstract PO-036: Safety outcomes of resuming anticancer treatment in patients with lung cancer affected by COVID-19 illness
Authors: Calles Antonio , Galera Mar , Aparicio Inmaculada , Alva Manuel , Bringas Marianela , Gutierrez Natalia , Soto Javier , Tirado Victoria , Alvarez Rosa 
Published: December 2020

Background: We aimed to describe how patients with lung cancer affected by COVID-19 recovered and were subsequently treated.

Methods: From March 4th to May 12th, 2020, we have previously identified 23 COVID-19 lung cancer patients confirmed by SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR in our institution (HGUGM; Madrid, Spain). After symptom recovery patients were tested weekly with nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV2. We did not start any anticancer treatment until at least 1 PCR confirmed a negative SARS-CoV-2 result. We reviewed treatment records, hospitalization, and outcomes of patients who recovered from COVID-19.

Results: With a median follow-up of 9.7 weeks after COVID-19 diagnosis (range 3.7-13 weeks), 15 patients are clinically recovered (65%) and 8 patients died (35%) from COVID-19. In COVID-19 survivors, time to SARS-CoV-2 PCR negativization from symptoms onset was 31 days (range 13-54 days). Three patients remain SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positive to date. Of the 12 patients who negativized for SARS-CoV-2, 8 pts have started systemic anticancer treatment as follows: immune checkpoint inhibitors (n=3), chemotherapy (n=3), and initiation of definitive thoracic chemoradiation (n=2). All 3 pts on immunotherapy resumed the same treatment that they were receiving before COVID-19 (pembrolizumab, atezolizumab), as 2 out of 3 pts did with chemotherapy (pemetrexed; carboplatin + paclitaxel). With a median time on treatment of 40 days (range 22-48 days), only 1 patient has developed treatment-related adverse events so far (grade 1 thrombocytopenia after cycle 1, and grade 2 neutropenia after cycle 2 of carboplatin plus etoposide in a patient with relapsed SCLC previously treated with chemoradiation). The 4 patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR who did not start any further treatment had either already completed planned treatment just before COVID-19 or were under surveillance without evidence of disease. Readmission was required in 4/15 patients: 1 pt due to tumor progression and pulmonary embolism, 1 pt due to brain edema from known brain metastasis, 1 pt due to Salmonella gastroenteritis, and 1 pt with hematuria due to prostate cancer. Of note, 1 patient who previously tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 -and who already resumed chemotherapy tested positive again upon admission without COVID-19-related symptoms.

Conclusions: Lung cancer patients who survived COVID-19 can be considered for cancer treatment without preliminary early safety concerns. Long-term efficacy and safety evaluation by treatment modality is needed.

Citation Format: Antonio Calles, Mar Galera, Inmaculada Aparicio, Manuel Alva, Marianela Bringas, Natalia Gutierrez, Javier Soto, Victoria Tirado, Rosa Alvarez. Safety outcomes of resuming anticancer treatment in patients with lung cancer affected by COVID-19 illness [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: COVID-19 and Cancer; 2020 Jul 20-22. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(18_Suppl):Abstract nr PO-036.