P3-22-7 - Efficacy and Strategies to Improve Immunogenicity of Flu Vaccine in Patients with Solid Organ Malignancy on Chemotherapy

Abstract

Background: Patients with solid tumour are predisposed to influenza, making them an appropriate target population for the annual flu vaccine program. On the other hand, this population may not mount an adequate immune response to flu vaccine and the true vaccine uptake is suspected to be low despite the reported significant health care cost of influenza infection among cancer patients. The reasons are multifactorial, including the perception of the lower immunogenicity in this immunocompromised population, concerns about its potential interference with well-being of patients and uncertainty about the best timing of vaccination in relation to often cyclical nature of systemic anti-neoplastic therapy.Method: The available literature was searched through MEDLINE and reviewed in order to examine the efficacy and safety of flu vaccine among adult patients with solid tumour receiving chemotherapy, significance of timing of flu vaccine to systemic anti-neoplastic therapy administration and the benefit of two-dose flu vaccine administration.Result: The results of prospective trials which compared the efficacy of flu vaccine in solid tumour patients receiving chemotherapy to that in non-cancer subjects are divided. Based on the recommended immunogenicity of commercially available flu vaccines, however, flu vaccine is generally capable of mounting adequate immune response in this population and is well tolerated. Available literature on two-dose administration and timing of flu vaccine to systemic anti-neoplastic therapy administration is limited and no conclusion could be drawn.Conclusion: The current literature supports annual flu vaccination in adult solid tumour patients on chemotherapy. Ongoing researches are sought to identify vaccine strategies which improve its immunogenicity.