Abstract
Background: The risk of cancer patients to develop COVID19 infection is unclear. We aimed to prospectively study cancer patients and oncology healthcare workers for COVID19 serology. In IgG+ cases, immune profile was determined to portray the pattern of immune response to SARS-CoV2. Methods: Cancer patients on active treatment and healthcare workers were enrolled. During the study period (3/2020-6/2020), demographic data and blood were collected at three time points. Expression of IgG, IgM, and IgA were assessed. In SARS-CoV-2 IgG+ cases and matched negative cases, we performed mass cytometry time of flight (CyTOF) analysis on the basis of the expression of surface markers. Results: The study included 164 cancer patients on active intravenous treatment and 107 healthcare workers at the cancer center. No symptomatic cases were reported during the study period. Serology analysis revealed four IgG+ patients (2.4%) and two IgG+ healthcare workers (1.9%)-all were asymptomatic. CyTOF analysis demonstrated substantial reduction in myeloid cells in healthcare workers who were SARS-CoV-2 IgG+ compared to those who were SARS-CoV-2 IgG-, whereas in cancer patients, the reduction was relatively milder (≈50% reduction in SARS-CoV-2 IgG+ cancer patients compared with ≈90% reduction in SARS-CoV-2 IgG+ workers). Conclusion: Our results indicate a similar rate of asymptomatic COVID19 infection in cancer patients and healthcare workers in a longitudinal study throughout the pandemic time. Due to differential immune cell profiles of cancer patients who are treated with immunomodulatory agents, the host response to the SARS-COV2 may play a role in COVID19 course and representation. The immunological perspective of cancer treatments on the risk for COVID19 infection should be further explored.
Highlights
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) pandemic has introduced a substantial healthcare challenge globally
We aimed to study immune profile to portray the pattern of immune response to COVID19
During the designated time period (29/3/2020–7/4/2020), 164 cancer patients on active intravenous treatment as well as 107 healthcare workers at the Rambam Health Care Campus (RHCC) oncology center were recruited into the study
Summary
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) pandemic has introduced a substantial healthcare challenge globally. Hypertension had been found as the leading risk factor predispose for COVID19 infection [2], while other supposed potential risk factors at the early phase of the pandemic had been either refuted or partially confirmed. Cancer patients were at first generally postulated as a large subgroup at high risk of developing COVID19 infection and its severe complications. Despite lack of solid prospective studies to support this hypothesis, several international guidelines were revisited, while postponing chemotherapy or elective surgery for specific indications in endemic areas were suggested [3]. A study performed in China indicated that among 1590 patients with confirmed. The risk of cancer patients to develop COVID19 infection is unclear. We aimed to prospectively study cancer patients and oncology healthcare workers for COVID19 serology. Cases, immune profile was determined to portray the pattern of immune response to SARS-CoV2
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