Controversies About COVID-19 and Anticancer Treatment with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Outcome of a patient with refractory Hodgkin lymphoma on pembrolizumab, infected with SARS‐CoV‐2

“…Bersanelli et al hypothesise the potential dangers of administering PD-1 inhibitors in this context, the potential for dual pathology for lung injury, cytokine release syndrome caused by PD-1 inhibitors, overactivation of T cells, and mononuclear predominance in acute respiratory distress syndromeassociated COVID-19 may lead to a synergistic pro-inflammatory state. 6 We report a positive outcome in a patient with refractory HL albeit with prolonged fevers and symptomatology and raised inflammatory markers in the context of HL and approaching her seventh cycle of pembrolizumab. Our patient was pyrexial for 13 days, longer than the median of 10 (95% CI 8-12 days) reported elsewhere.…”

Single-cell analysis of severe COVID-19 patients reveals a monocyte-driven inflammatory storm attenuated by Tocilizumab

“…There are always questions about whether Tocilizumab treatment may affect the antiviral effect of the body 22,23 . Our single cell profiles illustrated a sustained humoral and cell-mediated anti-virus immune response of COVID-19 patients at both severe and recovery stage.…”

Suggestions on surgical treatment during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic

“…In addition, checkpoint inhibitors, which can induce hyperinflammation, may raise a cytokine storm and interstitial mononuclear inflammatory infiltration in a pneumonia condition theoretically. Lung immune-related adverse events caused by immune-check point inhibitors can overlap with COVID-19 related pneumonia (15). Thus, decisions should be made deliberately based on evidence and MDT discussion.…”