TY - JOUR
T1 - Coronavirus infection and immune system
T2 - An insight of COVID-19 in cancer patients
AU - Indini, Alice
AU - Rijavec, Erika
AU - Ghidini, Michele
AU - Bareggi, Claudia
AU - Cattaneo, Monica
AU - Galassi, Barbara
AU - Gambini, Donatella
AU - Grossi, Francesco
PY - 2020/9
Y1 - 2020/9
N2 - The novel coronavirus respiratory illness (COVID-19) is a public health emergency of global concern. Patients with cancer are at high risk of infections, due to an overall immunocompromised status. However, this connection is not straightforward for coronavirus (CoV) infection, in which the host immune response is the main driver of tissue damage. We performed a thorough review of data on CoV pathogenesis and morbidity rate in cancer patients, through the analysis of the previous CoV pandemics. Considering the interaction between CoV and the host immune system, cancer patients receiving immunotherapy might be more at risk for an aberrant immune response in case of infection, and might therefore deserve additional precautions. The limited available data do not allow us to provide practical indications for the management of cancer patients in this critical situation. Efforts should be made to prospectively collect data, to identify effective interventions to guide treatment decision.
AB - The novel coronavirus respiratory illness (COVID-19) is a public health emergency of global concern. Patients with cancer are at high risk of infections, due to an overall immunocompromised status. However, this connection is not straightforward for coronavirus (CoV) infection, in which the host immune response is the main driver of tissue damage. We performed a thorough review of data on CoV pathogenesis and morbidity rate in cancer patients, through the analysis of the previous CoV pandemics. Considering the interaction between CoV and the host immune system, cancer patients receiving immunotherapy might be more at risk for an aberrant immune response in case of infection, and might therefore deserve additional precautions. The limited available data do not allow us to provide practical indications for the management of cancer patients in this critical situation. Efforts should be made to prospectively collect data, to identify effective interventions to guide treatment decision.
KW - Cancer
KW - Coronavirus
KW - COVID-19
KW - Immunotherapy
KW - Infection
KW - Oncology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85088111770&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85088111770&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2020.103059
DO - 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2020.103059
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85088111770
VL - 153
JO - Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
JF - Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
SN - 1040-8428
M1 - 103059
ER -