Immunocytometric analysis of patients with thymic epithelial tumors revealed that COVID-19 vaccine booster strongly enhanced the immune response

Cernera, Gustavo; Gelzo, Monica; De Placido, Pietro; Ottaviano, Margaret; Pietroluongo, Erica; Raia, Maddalena; Scalia, Giulia; Tortora, Marianna; Castaldo, Giuseppe; Formisano, Pietro; Palmieri, Giovannella; Giuliano, Mario

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1233056

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 49 publications

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“…In a subsequent analysis evaluating both humoral and cell-mediated immunity following the administration of the booster dose, we identified a subgroup of patients who failed to achieve seroconversion despite completing the full vaccine cycle, although they exhibited cell-mediated immunity. Nevertheless, a limited proportion of patients did not develop either humoral or cellular responses [ 20 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 in patients with thymic epithelial tumors with or without Good’s syndrome: a single-center retrospective study

Pietroluongo,

Peddio,

De Placido

et al. 2024

BMC Cancer

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Introduction Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare neoplasms often associated with immune-related disorders. Patients with Good’s syndrome (GS), an adult-acquired TET-related immunodeficiency, are at a high risk of mortality due to infectious diseases. This study aims to examine COVID-19 occurrence and severity in TET patients, with or without GS. Methods Clinical records of TET patients referred to the Regional Coordinating Center for Rare Tumors of Campania Region were retrospectively collected. During the observation period, elapsing from March 2020 to April 2023, the following data were collected: occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infection; COVID-19 severity, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH) illness categories; COVID-19 treatment. COVID-19 occurrence and severity were assessed in the overall population and correlated with the presence of GS and/or other immune-related dysregulations. Results Overall, 47 TET patients were included in the study; 27 of these (57.4%) had GS. All participants had received a full cycle of mRNA vaccine for SARS-CoV2., Thirty-one patients (66.0%) experienced COVID-19, of whom 18 (58.0%) had previously received a diagnosis of GS. No significant association of GS and/or other immune-related dysregulations with SARS-CoV-2 infection occurrence was detected (Fisher’s exact test p = 1 and p = 0.3587, respectively). Among patients with GS, 8 (45.0%) reported a COVID-19 severity score of ≥ 3; whereas, only 1 of the 13 patients without GS (7.7%) had a severity score of ≥ 3. The correlation between presence of GS and COVID-19 severity (score 1 or 2 vs. ≥ 3) was statistically significant (p = 0.0448). No statistically significant association between COVID-19 severity and other immune-related syndromes were found (p = 1). Of note, all the hospitalized patients for NIH 4 and 5 COVID-19 had GS. Conclusions Our data suggest that TET patients, especially those with GS, require a careful multidisciplinary monitoring for SARS-CoV-2 infection, in order to establish tailored treatments and prophylactic protocols.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 in patients with thymic epithelial tumors with or without Good’s syndrome: a single-center retrospective study

Pietroluongo,

Peddio,

De Placido

et al. 2024

BMC Cancer

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Immune response of COVID-19 vaccines in solid cancer patients: A meta-analysis

Hua,

Fan,

Fan

et al. 2024

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics

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Solid cancer patients, compared to their healthy counterparts, are at a greater risk of contracting and suffering from severe complications and poorer prognosis after COVID-19 infections. They also have different immune responses after doses of COVID-19 vaccination, but limited evidence is available to reveal the effectiveness and help to guide immunization programs for this subpopulation; MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library databases, and clinicaltrials.gov were used to search literature. The pooled seroconversion rate was calculated using a random-effects model and reported with a 95% confidence interval (CI); The review includes 66 studies containing serological responses after COVID-19 vaccination in 13,050 solid cancer patients and 8550 healthy controls. The pooled seropositive rates after the first dose in patients with solid cancer and healthy controls are 55.2% (95% CI 45.9%–64.5% N = 18) and 90.2% (95% CI 80.9%–96.6% N = 13), respectively. The seropositive rates after the second dose in patients with solid cancer and healthy controls are 87.6% (95% CI 84.1%–90.7% N = 50) and 98.9% (95% CI 97.6%-99.7% N = 35), respectively. The seropositive rates after the third dose in patients with solid cancer and healthy controls are 91.4% (95% CI 85.4%–95.9% N = 21) and 99.8% (95% CI 98.1%-100.0% N = 4), respectively. Subgroup analysis finds that study sample size, timing of antibody testing, and vaccine type have influence on the results; Seroconversion rates after COVID-19 vaccination are significantly lower in patients with solid malignancies, especially after the first dose, then shrinking gradually after the following two vaccinations, indicating that subsequent doses or a booster dose should be considered for the effectiveness of this subpopulation.

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Serum biomarkers of inflammation and vascular damage upon SARS-Cov-2 mRNA vaccine in patients with thymic epithelial tumors

Cernera,

Gelzo,

De Placido

et al. 2024

Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM)

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Objectives Thymic epithelial tumors (TET) patients are at high risk of autoimmune and hypoimmune complications. Limited evidence is available on the potential risk of immune-related and inflammatory reactions induced by SARS-Cov-2 vaccine in this patient population. Methods In order to identify subjects at higher risk for vaccine complications, we prospectively evaluated a panel of serum biomarkers related to inflammation (TNF-α, IL-1β, −6, −10, −12, and −17A, IFN-α, β and γ, MPO, MMP-9), and vascular damage (E- and P-selectin, VEGF-A, P-ANCA and MCP-1) in 44 TET patients and in 30 healthy controls along the whole SARS-Cov-2 vaccine cycle. Results About 50 % of subjects (either TET and controls) showed an increase of serum biochemical markers of inflammation and endothelial damage with a large heterogeneity of values. Such increase appeared early, after the first dose in control subjects and later, after the second dose in TET patients (in which we observed mainly an increase of inflammatory biomarkers). The values normalized after about 3 months and did not increase after the third, booster dose. No autoimmune or vascular complications were observed in the study subjects and no difference was observed in terms of vaccine response among subjects showing serum biomarkers increase and those who experienced no changes. Conclusions Our data highlight the relevance of Sars-Cov-2 vaccine in TET patients, as it resulted safe and prevented severe COVID-19. However, further studies are awaited to explore the mechanisms and the potential consequences of the observed increase of serum inflammatory and vascular damage biomarkers.

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Immunocytometric analysis of patients with thymic epithelial tumors revealed that COVID-19 vaccine booster strongly enhanced the immune response

Cited by 3 publications

References 49 publications

COVID-19 in patients with thymic epithelial tumors with or without Good’s syndrome: a single-center retrospective study

COVID-19 in patients with thymic epithelial tumors with or without Good’s syndrome: a single-center retrospective study

Immune response of COVID-19 vaccines in solid cancer patients: A meta-analysis

Serum biomarkers of inflammation and vascular damage upon SARS-Cov-2 mRNA vaccine in patients with thymic epithelial tumors

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