Abstract-Angiotensin (Ang) II induces hypertension by mechanisms mediated in part by adaptive immunity and T effector lymphocytes. T regulatory lymphocytes (Tregs) suppress T effector lymphocytes. We questioned whether Treg adoptive transfer would blunt Ang II-induced hypertension and vascular injury. Ten-to 12-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were injected IV with 3ϫ10 5 Treg (CD4 ϩ CD25 ϩ ) or T effector (CD4 ϩ CD25 Ϫ ) cells, 3 times at 2-week intervals, and then infused or not with Ang II (1 g/kg per minute, SC) for 14 days. Ang II increased systolic blood pressure by 43 mm Hg (PϽ0.05), NADPH oxidase activity 1.5-fold in aorta and 1.8-fold in the heart (PϽ0.05), impaired acetylcholine vasodilatory responses by 70% compared with control (PϽ0.05), and increased vascular stiffness (PϽ0.001), mesenteric artery vascular cell adhesion molecule expression (2-fold; PϽ0.05), and aortic macrophage and T-cell infiltration (PϽ0.001). All of the above were prevented by Treg but not T effector adoptive transfer. Ang II caused a 43% decrease in

Introduction Studies suggest that patients with cancer are more likely to experience severe outcomes from COVID-19. Therefore, cancer centers have undertaken efforts to care for patients with cancer in COVID-free units. Nevertheless, the frequency and relevance of nosocomial transmission of COVID-19 in patients with cancer remain unknown. The goal of this study was to determine the incidence and impact of hospital-acquired COVID-19 in this population and identify predictive factors for COVID-19 severity in patients with cancer. Methods Patients with cancer and a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 were prospectively identified using provincial registries and hospital databases between March 3 rd and May 23 rd , 2020 in the provinces of Quebec and British Columbia in Canada. Patient’s baseline characteristics including age, sex, comorbidities, cancer type, and type of anti-cancer treatment were collected. The exposure of interest was incidence of hospital-acquired infection defined by diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 ≥ 5 days after hospital admission for COVID-unrelated cause. Co-primary outcomes were death or composite outcomes of severe illness from COVID-19 such as hospitalization, supplemental oxygen, intensive-care unit (ICU) admission and/or mechanical ventilation. Results A total of 252 patients (N=249 adult, and N=3 pediatric) with COVID-19 and cancer were identified, and the majority were residents of Quebec (N=233). One-hundred-and-six patients (42.1%) received active anti-cancer treatment in the last 3 months prior to COVID-19 diagnosis. During a median follow-up of 25 days, 33 (13.1%) required admission to the ICU, and 71 (28.2%) died. Forty-seven (19.1%) had a diagnosis of hospital-acquired COVID-19. Median overall survival was shorter in those with hospital-acquired infection, compared to a contemporary community-acquired population (27 days vs unreached, HR 2.3, 95% CI 1.2-4.4, p=0.0006). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that hospital-acquired COVID-19, age, ECOG status, and advanced stage of cancer were independently associated with death. Interpretation Our study demonstrates a high rate of nosocomial transmission of COVID-19, associated with increased mortality in both univariate and multivariate analysis in the cancer population, reinforcing the importance of treating patients with cancer in COVID-free units. We also validated that age and advanced cancer were negative predictive factors for COVID-19 severity in patients with cancer.

Lemarié CA, Shbat L, Marchesi C, Angulo OJ, Deschênes ME, Blostein MD, Paradis P, Schiffrin EL. Mthfr deficiency induces endothelial progenitor cell senescence via uncoupling of eNOS and downregulation of SIRT1.

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The risk of a postoperative abscess can be predicted by specific clinical characteristics, surgical findings, and treatment-related factors. Percutaneous drainage was associated with longer hospital stays, but less readmissions.

Aim: To describe the direct healthcare costs associated with repeated cytotoxic chemotherapy treatments for recurrent high-grade serous cancer (HGSC) of the ovaries. Patients & methods: Retrospective review of 66 women with recurrent stage III/IV HGSC ovarian cancer treated with repeated lines of cytotoxic chemotherapy in a Canadian University Tertiary Center. Results: Mean cost of treatment of first relapse was CAD$52,227 increasing by 38% for two, and 86% for three or more relapses with median overall survival of 36.0, 50.7 and 42.8 months, respectively. In-hospital care accounted for 71% and chemotherapy drugs accounted for 17% of the total costs. Conclusion: After the third relapse of HGSC, cytotoxic chemotherapy did not prolong survival but was associated with substantially increased healthcare costs.

Background: Studies suggest that patients with cancer are more likely to experience severe outcomes from COVID-19. Therefore, cancer centers have undertaken efforts to care for patients with cancer in COVID-free zones. Nevertheless, nosocomial transmission of COVID-19 in patients with cancer likely occurs, but the frequency and relevance of these events remain unknown. The goal of this study was to determine the incidence and impact of hospital-acquired COVID-19 in this population and identify prognostic factors for COVID-19 severity in patients with cancer. Methods: Patients with cancer and a laboratory-confirmed or presumed diagnosis of COVID-19 were prospectively identified using provincial registries and hospital databases between March 3rd and May 23rd, 2020, in the provinces of Quebec and British Columbia. Patients’ baseline characteristics including age, sex, comorbidities, cancer type, and type of anticancer treatment were collected. The primary outcome was incidence of hospital-acquired infection defined by diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 5 days after hospital admission for COVID-unrelated cause. Co-primary outcomes were death or composite outcomes of severe illness from COVID-19 such as hospitalization, supplemental oxygen, intensive-care unit (ICU) admission, and/or mechanical ventilation. Results: A total of 253 patients (N=250 adult and N=3 pediatric) with COVID-19 and cancer were identified, and the majority were residents of Quebec (N=236). Ninety patients (35.6%) received active anticancer treatment in the last 3 months prior to COVID-19 diagnosis. During a median follow-up of 23 days, 209 (82.6%) required hospitalization, 38 (15%) required admission to ICU, and 71 (28%) died. Forty-seven (19%) had a diagnosis of hospital-acquired COVID-19. Median overall survival was shorter in those with hospital-acquired infection, compared to a contemporary community-acquired population (27 days vs. 71 days, HR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2-4.0, p=0.002). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that hospital-acquired COVID-19, age, ECOG status, and advanced stage of cancer were independently associated with death. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates a high rate of nosocomial transmission of COVID-19, associated with increased mortality in both univariate and multivariate analysis in the cancer population, reinforcing the importance of treating patients with cancer in COVID-free zones. We also validated that age, poor ECOG, and advanced cancer were negative prognostic factors for COVID-19 in patients with cancer. Citation Format: Arielle Elkrief, Antoine Desilets, Neha Papneja, Lena Cvetkovic, Catherine Groleau, Yahia Abdelali Lakehal, Layla Shbat, Corentin Richard, Julie Malo, Wiam Belkaid, Erin Cook, Stephane Doucet, Thai Hoa Tran, Patrice Savard, Kevin Jao, Nathalie Daaboul, Eric Bhang, Jonathan Loree, Wilson Miller, Donald Vinh, Nathaniel Bouganim, Gerald Batist, Caroline Letendre, Bertrand Routy. High mortality among hospital-acquired COVID-19 infection in patients with cancer: An observational cohort study from Quebec and British Columbia [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 S12-01.

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