Anticancer Therapy in COVID-19 Patients: A Descriptive Literature Review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To provide a descriptive literature review about the effects of anticancer treatment on clinical outcomes because of active COVID-19 infection in older people. DATA SOURCES: A literature search was conducted in Google Scholar, PubMed, American Society of Clinical Oncology, European Society for Medical Oncology, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Articles published in English between December 1, 2019, to September 1, 2020, were included. STUDY SELECTION: Nine studies assessing the effectiveness of various modalities for cancer treatments in patients infected with COVID-19 infection were reviewed. The studies reviewed the severity of COVID-19 infection outcomes in patients who underwent any anticancer treatment. Studies exclusively focused on older people could not be found, but all studies included older people. DATA SYNTHESiS AND RESULTS: Early pandemic studies suggested avoiding anticancer treatment during a COVID-19 infection because of poor clinical outcomes and increased mortality. However, the totality of studies reviewed found no association between the continuation of anticancer treatment and adverse COVID-19 outcomes in cancer patients. Adverse COVID-19 infection outcomes and high mortality rates were associated with older cancer patients independent of anticancer therapy. CONCLUSION: Treatment of cancer could be challenging because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Interruption or delaying the anticancer therapy could increase the burden of overall mortality. This literature review indicated that adverse outcomes because of COVID-19 are associated with advanced age independent of anticancer therapy. Further exploration of the correlation between cancer, anticancer treatments, and COVID-19 infection outcomes is needed.

Impact of COVID-19 on care of older adults with cancer: a narrative synthesis of reviews, guidelines and recommendations

“…We identified a total of five systematic reviews [13,14,15 ▪▪ ,16,17], and three descriptive or narrative literature reviews [18–20] addressing the impacts of COVID-19 on older adults with cancer (See Table 1). The results of the included reviews document the prevalence, clinical outcomes, prognosis, factors affecting morbidity and mortality, along with suggestions for future oncology care during and after the pandemic.…”

“…The included reviews were conducted in USA [13,18], China [14,15 ▪▪ ], Korea [16], Australia [17], UK [19] and Italy [20]. The first authors of all the reviews were a part of the medical discipline [13,14,15 ▪▪ ,16–20].…”

“…Mixed views regarding the association of immunotherapy with morbidity and mortality were also expressed [13,19]. Tripathi et al [18] presented a historical review that described recommendations to avoid anticancer treatment early in the pandemic due to observed poor clinical outcomes. However, the authors found no association between anticancer treatment and COVID-19, noting that adverse COVID-19 outcomes and increased mortality were associated with older adults with cancer regardless of their treatment status.…”

“…The results of the included reviews document the prevalence, clinical outcomes, prognosis, factors affecting morbidity and mortality, along with suggestions for future oncology care during and after the pandemic. The included reviews were conducted in USA [13,18], China [14,15 && ], Korea [16], Australia [17], UK [19] and Italy [20]. The first authors of all the reviews were a part of the medical discipline [13,14,15 [16].…”