@article{e51950c27497470d80c2c4dfb051f411,
title = "Impact of COVID-19 outbreak on cancer immunotherapy in Italy: A survey of young oncologists: Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer",
abstract = "Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has overwhelmed the health systems worldwide. Data regarding the impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients (CPs) undergoing or candidate for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are lacking. We depicted the practice and adaptations in the management of patients with solid tumors eligible or receiving ICIs during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a special focus on Campania region. Methods This survey (25 questions), promoted by the young section of SCITO (Societ{\`a} Campana di ImmunoTerapia Oncologica) Group, was circulated among Italian young oncologists practicing in regions variously affected by the pandemic: high (group 1), medium (group 2) and low (group 3) prevalence of SARS-CoV-2-positive patients. For Campania region, the physician responders were split into those working in cancer centers (CC), university hospitals (UH) and general hospitals (GH). Percentages of agreement, among High (H) versus Medium (M) and versus Low (L) group for Italy and among CC, UH and GH for Campania region, were compared by using Fisher's exact tests for dichotomous answers and χ 2 test for trends relative to the questions with 3 or more options. Results This is the first Italian study to investigate the COVID-19 impact on cancer immunotherapy, unique in its type and very clear in the results. The COVID-19 pandemic seemed not to affect the standard practice in the prescription and delivery of ICIs in Italy. Telemedicine was widely used. There was high consensus to interrupt immunotherapy in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients and to adopt ICIs with longer schedule interval. The majority of the responders tended not to delay the start of ICIs; there were no changes in supportive treatments, but some of the physicians opted for delaying surgeries (if part of patients' planned treatment approach). The results from responders in Campania did not differ significantly from the national ones. Conclusion Our study highlights the efforts of Italian oncologists to maintain high standards of care for CPs treated with ICIs, regardless the regional prevalence of COVID-19, suggesting the adoption of similar solutions. Research on patients treated with ICIs and experiencing COVID-19 will clarify the safety profile to continue the treatments, thus informing on the most appropriate clinical conducts. {\textcopyright}",
keywords = "antineoplastic protocols, healthcare economics and organizations, immunotherapy, lung neoplasms, melanoma, C reactive protein, checkpoint kinase inhibitor, D dimer, interleukin 6, lactate dehydrogenase, CD274 protein, human, CTLA4 protein, human, cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4, immunological antineoplastic agent, PDCD1 protein, human, programmed death 1 ligand 1, programmed death 1 receptor, adult, Article, blood cell count, breathing rate, cancer immunotherapy, cancer patient, clinical practice, coronavirus disease 2019, geographic distribution, health care system, human, Italy, oncologist, prevalence, priority journal, questionnaire, screening, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, solid malignant neoplasm, telemedicine, thorax cancer, thorax radiography, urogenital tract cancer, Betacoronavirus, Coronavirus infection, female, geography, immunology, infection control, male, neoplasm, oncology, pandemic, pathogenicity, prescription, time to treatment, virus pneumonia, Adult, Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological, B7-H1 Antigen, Coronavirus Infections, CTLA-4 Antigen, Drug Prescriptions, Female, Geography, Humans, Infection Control, Male, Medical Oncology, Neoplasms, Oncologists, Pandemics, Pneumonia, Viral, Practice Patterns, Physicians', Prevalence, Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor, Surveys and Questionnaires, Time-to-Treatment",
author = "M. Ottaviano and M. Curvietto and P. Rescigno and M. Tortora and G. Palmieri and D. Giannarelli and M. Aieta and P. Assalone and L. Attademo and A. Avallone and F. Bloise and D. Bosso and V. Borzillo and G. Buono and G. Calderoni and F. Caputo and G. Carten{\`i} and D. Cavallero and A. Cavo and F. Ciardiello and R. Conca and V. Conteduca and {De Falco}, S. and {De Felice}, M. and {De Laurentiis}, M. and {De Placido}, P. and {De Placido}, S. and {De Santo}, I. and {De Stefano}, A. and {Della Corte}, C.M. and {Di Franco}, R. and {Di Lauro}, V. and A. Fabbrocini and P. Federico and L. Festino and P. Giordano and M. Giuliano and C. Gridelli and A.M. Grimaldi and M. Lia and A.L. Marretta and V. Massa and A. Mennitto and S. Merler and V. Merz and C. Messina and M. Messina and M. Milano and A.M. Minisini and V. Montesarchio and A. Morabito and F. Morgillo and B. Mucci and L. Nappi and F. Napolitano and I. Paciolla and M. Pagliuca and S. Parola and S. Pepe and A. Petrillo and F. Piantedosi and L. Piccin and F. Picozzi and E. Pietroluongo and S. Pignata and V. Prati and V. Riccio and M. Rosanova and A. Rossi and A. Russo and M. Salati and G. Santabarbara and A. Sbrana and E. Simeone and A. Silvestri and M. Spada and P. Tarantino and P. Taveggia and F. Tomei and T. Vincenzo and D. Trapani and C. Trojanello and V. Vanella and S. Vari and J. Ventriglia and M.G. Vitale and F. Vitiello and C. Vivaldi and {Von Arx}, C. and F. Zacchi and I. Zampiva and A. Zivi and B. Daniele and P.A. Ascierto",
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year = "2020",
doi = "10.1136/jitc-2020-001154",
language = "English",
volume = "8",
journal = "J. Immunother. Cancer",
issn = "2051-1426",
publisher = "BMJ Publishing Group",
number = "2",
}