Vaccination of cancer patients against COVID-19: towards the end of a dilemma

Abstract

With the emergence of second wave of COVID-19 infection globally, particularly in India in March–April 2021, protection by massive vaccination drive has become the need of the hour. Vaccines have been proved to reduce the risk of developing severe illness and are emerging as vital tools in the battle against COVID-19. As per the GLOBOCAN database, nearly 19.3 million new cancer cases have been reported in 2020 globally, which posed a significant challenge to health care providers to protect such large number of ‘vulnerable’ patients from COVID-19. Nevertheless, a considerable degree of doubt, hesitancy and misconceptions are noted regarding the administration of vaccines particularly during active immuno-suppressant treatment. This review article highlights the added vulnerability of cancer patients to the COVID-19 infection and has explored the immunological challenges associated with malignancy, anticancer treatment and COVID-19 vaccination. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12032-021-01540-8.

COVID-19 vaccines in adult cancer patients with solid tumours undergoing active treatment: Seropositivity and safety. A prospective observational study in Italy

“…People with cancer are at an increased risk of experiencing unfavorable outcomes resulting from COVID-19 infection, and recently published position papers, editorials, commentary, and reviews have supported the notion that patients with cancer must receive COVID-19 vaccination when possible [ 26 , 27 ]. However, available clinical data on COVID-19 vaccination in cancer patients are fragmentary and poor [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ].…”

Booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines for patients with haematological and solid cancer: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis

“…COVID-19 vaccines have proven highly efficacious in preventing severe infection and complications in healthy individuals [10,11], as well as to be cost effective at the population level [12]. Evidence has also shown favourable benefits and safety profiles in patients with cancer [13,14]. However, it has been determined that patients with cancer have a significantly blunted immune response even to complete regimens of vaccination [15].…”

Antibody Responses to COVID-19 Vaccination in Cancer: A Systematic Review

“…However, the data on the vaccine efficacy is limited due to exclusion of cancer patients from most COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials ( 19 ). Both cancer and anti-cancer treatments challenge the proper functioning of adaptive immune machinery and could complicate the efficacy of vaccines ( 20 ). The previous experience with the influenza vaccination ( 21 ) and early reports with SARS-COV-2 vaccines ( 22 ) pointed out a decreased vaccine efficacy in patients with cancer due to both cancer and treatment-induced immunosuppression albeit with heterogeneous study populations and limited sample sizes.…”