Anti-BRAF/Anti-MEK Targeted Therapies for Metastatic Melanoma Patients During the COVID-19 Outbreak: Experience from an Italian Skin Cancer Unit

Quaglino, Pietro; Fava, Paolo; Brizio, Matteo; Marra, Elena; Rubatto, Marco; Merli, Martina; Tonella, Luca; Ribero, Simone; Fierro, Maria Teresa

doi:10.2217/fon-2020-0997

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…According to data from registries and large retrospective studies, patients treated with ICIs who contracted SARS‐CoV‐2 infections did not have worse outcome than other oncological patients [ 10 , 25 , 29 , 30 ]. A study examining the association between SARS‐CoV‐2 infections and targeted therapy in Turin, Italy expressed support for its initiation and/or continuation under strict monitoring of clinical symptoms [ 26 ]. Considering the favorable impact of adjuvant and palliative melanoma therapy on survival, these treatments must not be withheld from patients who require them during the pandemic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Melanoma care during one year pandemic in Berlin: decreasing appointment cancellations despite increasing COVID‐19 concern

Micek

Diehl

Teuscher

et al. 2022

J Deutsche Derma Gesell

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Background and objectives:The COVID-19 pandemic poses a great challenge for cancer patients. Our aim was to assess its influence on treatment and appointments of melanoma patients after one year of pandemic.Methods: Melanoma patients treated in the Vivantes Skin Cancer Centre in Berlin, Germany completed a postal survey on pandemic-related alterations in melanoma care. Impact factors on changes of appointments were examined with descriptive analyses and multivariate logistic regression. Data after one year of pandemic were compared to those after its first wave.Results: Among 366 participants (57.7 % males; mean age 69.2 years, response rate: 36.1 %), 38 (10.1 %) reported postponed or missed appointments, mostly on their own demand (71.1 %) due to fear of COVID-19 (52.6 %). Current treatment was associated with a lower risk of changing appointments (Odds Ratio [OR]: 0.194, p = 0.002), higher age (OR: 1.037, p = 0.039), longer disease duration (OR: 1.007, p = 0.028), and higher school degree (OR: 2.263, p = 0.043) with higher probability. Among 177 patients currently receiving therapy, only 1.7 % experienced pandemic-related treatment alterations. Concern about COVID-19 was significantly higher after one year of pandemic than after its first wave, but the number of missed appointments was lower.Conclusions: Pandemic-related changes were rare in our cohort and decreased over time despite increasing concern.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Melanoma care during one year pandemic in Berlin: decreasing appointment cancellations despite increasing COVID‐19 concern

Micek

Diehl

Teuscher

et al. 2022

J Deutsche Derma Gesell

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“…Da die Auswirkungen systemischer Krebstherapien auf Virusinfektionen nach wie vor Gegenstand von Diskussionen sind [10,[25][26][27], wird derzeit untersucht, ob systemische Melanomtherapien einen zusätzlichen Risikofaktor für Tabelle 2 Therapiemerkmale der gesamten Kohorte und der Subgruppen, die Arzttermine verschoben/verpassten oder nicht. Fortgesetzt COVID-19-Infektionen und schwere Verlaufsformen darstellen könnten [27,28].…”

Section: Therapieänderungenunclassified

“…Daten aus Registern und großen retrospektiven Studien zufolge hatten mit ICI behandelte Patienten, die sich mit SARS‐CoV‐2 infizierten, kein schlechteres Outcome als andere Krebspatienten [ 10 , 25 , 29 , 30 ]. In einer Studie aus Turin in Italien, in welcher der Zusammenhang zwischen SARS‐CoV‐2‐Infektionen und zielgerichteter Therapie untersucht wurde, wurde die Therapieeinleitung und/oder die Fortsetzung unter strenger Überwachung klinischer Symptome befürwortet [ 26 ]. In Anbetracht der vorteilhaften Auswirkungen der adjuvanten und palliativen Melanomtherapie auf das Überleben dürfen diese Therapien den Patienten, die sie benötigen, während der Pandemie nicht vorenthalten werden.…”

Section: Diskussionunclassified

Melanomversorgung während eines Jahres Pandemie in Berlin: abnehmende Terminstornierungen trotz zunehmender Besorgnis über COVID‐19

Micek

Diehl

Teuscher

et al. 2022

J Deutsche Derma Gesell

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ZusammenfassungHintergrund und ZieleDie COVID‐19‐Pandemie stellt für Krebspatienten eine große Herausforderung dar. Unser Ziel war es, ihren Einfluss auf die Behandlung und auf Arzttermine von Melanompatienten nach einem Jahr Pandemie zu untersuchen.Patienten und MethodikMelanompatienten, die im Vivantes Hauttumorzentrum in Berlin behandelt wurden, beantworteten eine postalische Umfrage zu Pandemie‐bedingten Änderungen ihrer Melanomversorgung. Einflussfaktoren auf Terminänderungen wurden mit deskriptiven Analysen und multivariater logistischer Regression untersucht. Daten nach einem Jahr Pandemie wurden mit Daten nach der ersten Welle verglichen.ErgebnisseVon den 366 Teilnehmern (57,7 % Männer; Durchschnittsalter 69,2 Jahre, Rücklaufquote: 36,1 %) berichteten 38 (10,1 %) über verschobene oder verpasste Arzttermine, meist auf eigenen Wunsch (71,1 %) aus Angst vor COVID‐19 (52,6 %). Eine aktuelle Therapie war mit einem geringeren Risiko, Termine zu verpassen, assoziiert (Odds Ratio [OR]: 0,194, p = 0,002), höheres Alter (OR: 1,037, p = 0,039), längere Krankheitsdauer (OR: 1,007, p = 0,028) und ein höherer Schulabschluss (OR: 2,263, p = 0,043) mit höherer Wahrscheinlichkeit. Von den 177 Patienten, die aktuell eine Therapie erhielten, erfuhren nur 1,7 % Pandemie‐bedingte Behandlungsänderungen. Die Besorgnis über COVID‐19 war nach einem Jahr Pandemie signifikant größer als nach der ersten Welle, die Zahl der verpassten Arzttermine jedoch niedriger.SchlussfolgerungenPandemie‐bedingte Änderungen waren in unserer Kohorte selten und nahmen trotz zunehmender Besorgnis mit der Zeit ab.

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“…The symptoms of patients were strictly monitored to detect potential COVID-19 infection at an early stage, in addition to maintaining strict triage procedures at the hospital entrance. At the time of writing, no patients developed COVID-19 infection [ 49 ].…”

Section: Experiences In Our Dermatological Clinicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Melanoma Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency: A Literature Review and Single-Center Experience

Cariti

Merli

Avallone

et al. 2021

Cancers

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Background: The current COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the modus operandi of all fields of medicine, significantly impacting patients with oncological diseases and multiple comorbidities. Thus, in recent months, the establishment of melanoma management during the emergency has become a major area of interest. In addition to original articles, case reports and specific guidelines for the period have been developed. Purpose: This article aims to evaluate whether melanoma management has been changed by the outbreak of COVID-19, and if so, what the consequences are. We summarized the main issues concerning the screening of suspicious lesions, the diagnosis of primary melanoma, and the management of early-stage and advanced melanomas during the pandemic. Additionally, we report on the experience of our dermatological clinic in northern Italy. Methods: We performed a literature review evaluating articles on melanomas and COVID-19 published in the last two years on PubMed, as well as considering publications by major healthcare organizations. Concerning oncological practice in our center, we collected data on surgical and therapeutic procedures in patients with a melanoma performed during the first months of the pandemic. Conclusions: During the emergency period, the evaluation of suspicious skin lesions was ensured as much as possible. However, the reduced level of access to medical care led to a documented delay in the diagnosis of new melanomas. When detected, the management of early-stage and advanced melanomas was fully guaranteed, whereas the follow-up visits of disease-free patients have been postponed or replaced with a teleconsultation when possible.

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Anti-BRAF/Anti-MEK Targeted Therapies for Metastatic Melanoma Patients During the COVID-19 Outbreak: Experience from an Italian Skin Cancer Unit

Abstract: At the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, we decided to maintain treatment in all patients due to the available clinical data on the increased relapse risk in patients discontinuing TT. "

Cited by 5 publications

References 17 publications

Melanoma care during one year pandemic in Berlin: decreasing appointment cancellations despite increasing COVID‐19 concern

Melanoma care during one year pandemic in Berlin: decreasing appointment cancellations despite increasing COVID‐19 concern

Melanomversorgung während eines Jahres Pandemie in Berlin: abnehmende Terminstornierungen trotz zunehmender Besorgnis über COVID‐19

Melanoma Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency: A Literature Review and Single-Center Experience

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