Background Concerns have emerged about the higher risk of fatal COVID-19 in cancer patients. In this paper, we review the experience of a comprehensive cancer center. Methods A prospective registry was set up at Institut Curie at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. All cancer patients with suspected or proven COVID-19 were entered and actively followed for 28 days. Results Among 9,842 patients treated at Institut Curie between March 13 and May 1, 2020, 141 (1.4%) were diagnosed with COVID-19, based on RT-PCR testing and/or CT-scan. In line with our case-mix, breast cancer (40.4%) was the most common tumor type, followed by hematological and lung malignancies. Patients with active cancer therapy or/and advanced cancer accounted for 87.9% and 68.9% of patients, respectively. At diagnosis, 78.7% of patients had COVID-19 related symptoms, with an extent of lung parenchyma involvement inferior to 50% in 95.8% of patients. Blood count variations and C-reactive protein elevation were the most common laboratory abnormalities. Antibiotics and antiviral agents were administered in 48.2% and 6.4% of patients, respectively. At the time of analysis, 26 patients (18.4%) have died from COVID-19, and 100 (70.9%) were cured. Independent prognostic factors at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis associated with death or intensive care unit admission were extent of COVID-19 pneumonia and decreased O2 saturation. Conclusions COVID-19 incidence and presentation in cancer patients appear to be very similar to those in the general population. The outcome of COVID-19 is primarily driven by the initial severity of infection rather than patient or cancer characteristics.

Background: Concerns have emerged about the higher risk of fatal COVID-19 in cancer patients. In this paper, we review the experience of a comprehensive cancer center. Methods: A prospective registry was set up at Institut Curie at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. All cancer patients with suspected or proven COVID-19 were entered and actively followed for 28 days. Results: Among 9,842 patients treated at Institut Curie between mid-March and early May 2020, 141 (1.4%) were diagnosed with COVID-19, based on RT-PCR testing and/or CT-scan. In line with our case-mix, breast cancer (40%) was the most common tumor type, followed by hematological and lung malignancies (both 13%). Patients with active cancer therapy or/and advanced cancer accounted for 88% and 69% of patients, respectively. At diagnosis, 79% of patients had COVID-19 related symptoms, with an extent of lung parenchyma involvement ≤50% in 90% of patients. Blood count variations and C-reactive protein elevation were the most common laboratory abnormalities. Antibiotics and antiviral agents were administered in 48% and 7% of patients, respectively. At the time of analysis, 26 patients (18%) have died from COVID-19, and 81 (57%) were cured. Independent prognostic factors at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis associated with death or intensive care unit admission were extent of COVID-19 pneumonia and decreased O2 saturation. Conclusions: COVID-19 incidence and presentation in cancer patients appear to be very similar to those in the general population. The outcome of COVID-19 is primarily driven by the initial severity of infection rather than patient or cancer characteristics.

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Introduction: Compared with docetaxel, the phase-III trial, ULTIMATE, showed a significant improvement of progression-free survival (PFS) with paclitaxel–bevacizumab combination (PB) as second- or third-line treatment in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). With the increase of immunotherapy treatment in first-line settings, the optimal treatment after first-line failure must be redefined. Methods: This multicentric retrospective study identified all advanced NSCLC patients treated with PB as second-line therapy and beyond. The main efficacy outcomes assessed were objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), PFS, and overall survival (OS). The adverse events were reported according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). Results: From January 2010 to February 2020, 314 patients in 16 centers received the PB combination. Most patients were male (55%), with a median age of 60 years (19–82), 95% had adenocarcinoma, 27% had a performance status ⩾2, 45% had brain metastases at the time of inclusion. They mostly received the PB combination either in second (20%) or in third-line (39%), and 28% were treated just after ICI failure. ORR and DCR were 40% and 77%, respectively; median PFS and OS were 5.7 [interquartile range (IQR): 3.2–9.6] and 10.8 [IQR: 5.3–19.6] months, respectively. All grade adverse events concerned 82% of patients, including 53% asthenia and 39% neurotoxicity, and 25% of patients continued monotherapy (mostly with bevacizumab) alone due to toxicity. Median PFS for patients treated after ICI failure (ICI+) was significantly superior compared with those not previously treated with ICI (ICI−): 7.0 [IQR: 4.2–11.0] versus 5.2 [IQR: 2.9–8.8] months, p = 0.01, without statistically significant difference for OS between these two groups. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with superior PFS were previous ICI treatment and performance status of 0–1. Only a performance status of 0–1 was associated with superior OS. Conclusion: PB combination as second-line treatment or beyond for advanced non-squamous NSCLC had acceptable toxicity and a clinically relevant efficacy and is an option as salvage treatment for these patients, more particularly after ICI progression.