Current challenges and perspectives in lung cancer care during COVID-19 waves

Abstract

Purpose of reviewIn the era of the SARS-Cov2 pandemic, the multidisciplinary care of patients with lung cancer is the main challenge for clinicians. The depiction of complex networking between SARS-CoV2 and cancer cells is crucial to understanding the downstream signalling pathways leading to more severe clinical behaviour of COVID-19 among lung cancer patients. Recent findingsThe immunosuppressive status caused by both blunted immune response and active anticancer treatments (e.g. radiotherapy, chemotherapy) affects also the response to vaccines. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly influenced early detection, therapeutic management, and clinical research for patients with lung cancer. Summary SARS-CoV-2 infection does undoubtedly represent a challenge for care of patients with lung cancer. Since symptoms of infection may overlap with underlying condition, diagnosis must be reached and treatment should start as soon as possible. Although any cancer treatment should be procrastinated as long as infection is not cured, every choice must be pondered on individual basis, according to clinical conditions. Underdiagnosis should be avoided, and both surgical and medical treatment must be tailored to each patient. Therapeutic scenario standardization represents a major challenge for clinicians and researchers.

Development and Validation of Nomograms for Predicting Pneumonia in Patients with COVID-19 and Lung Cancer

“… 20 Lung cancer patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 experience more severe conditions, with a mortality rate ranging from 25% to 36%. 13 , 21 , 22 Identifying high-risk groups and implementing specific preventive measures for them holds significant importance. 23 , 24 To our knowledge, this study is the first to construct a visual predictive model for lung cancer patients progressing to pneumonia, particularly moderate-severe pneumonia, after SARS-CoV-2 infection.…”