COVID-19 outcomes in cancer patients: impact of cancer type and treatment

CategoryDetailsReference
Overall COVID-19 outcomes in cancer patients- Cancer patients face higher COVID-19 mortality, with outcomes varying by cancer type and treatment.
- Studies report on both overall and short-term mortality rates.
[27, 223, 225]
Impact of cancer type on COVID-19 outcomesHematologic malignancies:
- Worse COVID-19 outcomes, with a 33% mortality rate in a European study.
Solid tumors:
- High risk in lung, gastrointestinal, and CNS cancers, with lung cancer patients being particularly vulnerable.
[226231]
Cancer treatment and COVID-19 outcomesChemotherapy & chemoimmunotherapy:
- Increased risk of severe outcomes due to immunosuppression.
Immunotherapy, targeted, & endocrine therapies:
- Endocrine therapies linked to fewer complications.
[232235]
Role of recent treatments on COVID-19 outcomesChemotherapy:
- Conflicting data on risk; a UK study found no increased risk, while others reported higher mortality, especially in hematologic cancers.
Endocrine & other therapies:
- Endocrine therapies are linked to fewer complications.
[236239]
COVID-19 outcomes in cancer patients: research directionsPreventative therapeutics:
- Development of agents to counter SARS-CoV-2’s oncogenic effects.
Cancer surveillance:
- Trials needed to assess long-term cancer risks in COVID-19 survivors.
Omics approaches:
- Genomic and proteomic research essential for understanding long-term oncogenic effects.
[73, 120, 240]

COVID-19: coronavirus disease 2019; SARS-CoV-2: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2