scholarly journals Lights and Shadows on Managing Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Oncology during the COVID-19 Era

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1906
Author(s):  
Chiara Burgaletto ◽  
Oronzo Brunetti ◽  
Antonio Munafò ◽  
Renato Bernardini ◽  
Nicola Silvestris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Inflammatory Phase ◽  
Clinical Observations ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The One

Since the start of the global spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, cancer patients were identified as a specifically susceptible subgroup of the patient population. Several reports have shown that cancer patients have an increased risk of both contracting the infection and of experiencing a more severe disease course, with a rapidly evolving picture associated with higher mortality. The assumption of cancer patients as “COVID-19 vulnerable” has led, irretrievably, to profound changes in the decision making of oncological treatments. Potential justifications for such concerns encompass the cancer-dependent suppression of the immune response, as well as the influence of administration of systemic anticancer treatments, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Nevertheless, to date, it is not clear whether the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in cancer patients is safe, given their modulating effects on the immune system, or that they may rather conceal detrimental consequences. Theoretically, on the one hand, ICIs may enhance the immunological control of viral infections through their immunostimulating mechanisms; on the other hand, they could contribute to the hyper-inflammatory phase of COVID-19, worsening its clinical outcomes. In this study, we report the foremost clinical observations on the safety of ICI administration in cancer patients affected by COVID-19.

scholarly journals Cancer Management during COVID-19 Pandemic: Is Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors-Based Immunotherapy Harmful or Beneficial?

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Vivarelli ◽  
Luca Falzone ◽  
Caterina Maria Grillo ◽  
Giuseppa Scandurra ◽  
Francesco Torino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Question Mark ◽  
Cancer Management ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Anti Cancer

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently representing a global health threat especially for fragile individuals, such as cancer patients. It was demonstrated that cancer patients have an increased risk of developing a worse symptomatology upon severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, often leading to hospitalization and intensive care. The consequences of this pandemic for oncology are really heavy, as the entire healthcare system got reorganized. Both oncologists and cancer patients are experiencing rescheduling of treatments and disruptions of appointments with a concurrent surge of fear and stress. In this review all the up-to-date findings, concerning the association between COVID-19 and cancer, are reported. A remaining very debated question regards the use of an innovative class of anti-cancer molecules, the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), given their modulating effects on the immune system. For that reason, administration of ICIs to cancer patients represents a question mark during this pandemic, as its correlation with COVID-19-associated risks is still under investigation. Based on the mechanisms of action of ICIs and the current evidence, we suggest that ICIs not only can be safely administered to cancer patients, but they might even be beneficial in COVID-19-positive cancer patients, by exerting an immune-stimulating action.

scholarly journals Immune checkpoint inhibitors use and effects on prognosis of COVID-19 infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Immunotherapy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenwei Qian ◽  
Ying Ye ◽  
Lugen Zuo ◽  
Ting Song ◽  
Qing Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Prior Exposure

Aim: We aimed to quantify the effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) on the prognosis of COVID-19. Materials & methods: A meta-analysis was conducted and the hospitalization, severe disease and mortality rates were assessed. Thirteen studies comprising of 4614 cancer patients with COVID-19 were included. Results: When compared with cancer patients without prior ICI exposure, patients with prior ICI treatment exhibited a higher rate of hospitalization (odds ratio [OR] 2.0, 95% CI 1.19–3.38, p = 0.01). However, the OR of severe disease and mortality in ICI exposed cases was similar to non-ICI exposed patients (OR 1.55, 95% CI 0.69–3.51, p = 0.29; OR 1.12, 95% CI 0.85–1.48, p = 0.42, respectively). Conclusion: It is uncertain whether prior exposure to ICIs increases the risk of severe disease and death, however the observed OR suggest a higher rate of hospitalization.

scholarly journals Association of Steroids Use with Survival in Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fausto Petrelli ◽  
Diego Signorelli ◽  
Michele Ghidini ◽  
Antonio Ghidini ◽  
Elio Gregory Pizzutilo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Symptom Control ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Increased Risk

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can elicit toxicities by inhibiting negative regulators of adaptive immunity. Sometimes, management of toxicities may require systemic glucocorticoids. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies to evaluate the correlation between steroids use, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) in cancer patients treated with ICIs. Publications that compared steroids with non-steroid users in cancer patients treated with ICIs from inception to June 2019 were identified by searching the EMBASE, PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. Patients (studies, n = 16; patients, n = 4045) taking steroids were at increased risk of death and progression compared to those not taking steroids (HR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.24–1.91; p = 0.01 and HR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.02–1.76; p = 0.03, respectively). The main negative effect on OS was associated with patients taking steroids for supportive care (HR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.41–4.43; p < 0.01) or brain metastases (HR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.22–1.87; p < 0.01). In contrast, steroids used to mitigate adverse events did not negatively affect OS. In conclusion, caution is needed when steroids are used for symptom control. In these patients, a negative impact of steroid use was observed for both OS and PFS.

scholarly journals Cancer and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment in the Era of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3383
Author(s):  
Thilo Gambichler ◽  
Judith Reuther ◽  
Christina H. Scheel ◽  
Laura Susok ◽  
Peter Kern ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Severe Infection ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
The Right ◽  
Inhibitor Treatment

Whether cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are at an increased risk of severe infection and mortality during the corona pandemic is a hotly debated topic that will continue to evolve. Here, we summarize and discuss current studies regarding COVID-19 and anti-cancer treatment with an emphasis on ICI. Importantly, several lines of evidence suggest that patients currently treated with ICI do not display an increased vulnerability to infection with SARS-CoV-2. Data regarding morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 in cancer patients receiving ICI are less clear and often conflicting. Although mostly based on experimental data, it is possible that ICI can promote the exacerbated immune response associated with adverse outcome in COVID-19 patients. On the other hand, mounting evidence suggests that ICI might even be useful in the treatment of viral infections by preventing or ameliorating T cell exhaustion. In this context, the right timing of treatment might be essential. Nevertheless, some cancer patients treated with ICI experience autoimmune-related side effects that require the use of immunosuppressive therapies, which in turn may promote a severe course of infection with SARS-CoV-2. Although there is clear evidence that withholding ICI will have more serious consequences, further studies are urgently needed in to better evaluate the effects of ICI in patients with COVID-19 and the use of ICI during the corona pandemic in general.

scholarly journals From Oncogenic Signaling Pathways to Single-Cell Sequencing of Immune Cells: Changing the Landscape of Cancer Immunotherapy

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 2278
Author(s):  
Afshin Derakhshani ◽  
Zeinab Rostami ◽  
Hossein Safarpour ◽  
Mahdi Abdoli Shadbad ◽  
Niloufar Sadat Nourbakhsh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Cell ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Cancer Development ◽  
Immune Checkpoints ◽  
Single Cell Sequencing ◽  
Increased Risk

Over the past decade, there have been remarkable advances in understanding the signaling pathways involved in cancer development. It is well-established that cancer is caused by the dysregulation of cellular pathways involved in proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, cell metabolism, migration, cell polarity, and differentiation. Besides, growing evidence indicates that extracellular matrix signaling, cell surface proteoglycans, and angiogenesis can contribute to cancer development. Given the genetic instability and vast intra-tumoral heterogeneity revealed by the single-cell sequencing of tumoral cells, the current approaches cannot eliminate the mutating cancer cells. Besides, the polyclonal expansion of tumor-infiltrated lymphocytes in response to tumoral neoantigens cannot elicit anti-tumoral immune responses due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Nevertheless, the data from the single-cell sequencing of immune cells can provide valuable insights regarding the expression of inhibitory immune checkpoints/related signaling factors in immune cells, which can be used to select immune checkpoint inhibitors and adjust their dosage. Indeed, the integration of the data obtained from the single-cell sequencing of immune cells with immune checkpoint inhibitors can increase the response rate of immune checkpoint inhibitors, decrease the immune-related adverse events, and facilitate tumoral cell elimination. This study aims to review key pathways involved in tumor development and shed light on single-cell sequencing. It also intends to address the shortcomings of immune checkpoint inhibitors, i.e., their varied response rates among cancer patients and increased risk of autoimmunity development, via applying the data from the single-cell sequencing of immune cells.

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