Background
SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) has killed over five hundred thousand people and has infected over 13 million people across the world in over 200 countries. Cancer patients fall under the high-risk category and are susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 infection given the need for frequent hospital visits.
Methods
In this study, I analysed data from 46 cancer patients who were affected with different types of cancers (Table) and continued to receive cytotoxic treatment between January 2020 till July 2020.
Table: 331P.
Summary of the types of cancer and the treatment regimen of the 46 patients
| Type of cancer | Number of patients | Treatment regimen |
|---|---|---|
| Astrocytoma | 1 | Temodal + Bevacizumab |
| Breast | 3 | EC + T |
| Breast | 8 | EC + TC |
| Breast | 4 | EC + THP |
| Colorectal cancer | 4 | FOLFOX |
| Colorectal cancer | 3 | FOLFIRI |
| Colorectal cancer | 1 | FOLFOX + Bevacizumab |
| Ewing sarcoma | 1 | VCD/IE |
| Gastric cancer | 4 | FLOT |
| Gastric cancer | 2 | XELOX |
| Lung cancer | 4 | Docetaxel + Carboplatin |
| Lung cancer | 1 | Topotecan |
| Lung cancer | 4 | Etoposide + Carboplatin |
| Lung cancer | 1 | Docetaxel + Cisplatin |
| Osteosarcoma | 1 | OS99 |
| Osteosarcoma | 1 | HD-MTX |
| Pancreatic cancer | 2 | FOLFIRINOX |
| Small bowel | 1 | FOLFOX |
Results
All the 46 patients included in the study completed their cytotoxic regimen without developing SARS-CoV-2 infection between January till July 2020.
Conclusions
The results from the study led to the hypothesis that three factors which were common among the cancer patients included in the study namely, 1) the use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), 2) the use of dexamethasone and, 3) dysbiosis of microbiome among cancer patients might be potential reasons for evading the deadly SARS-CoV-2 infection, despite their compromised immune status and a high likelihood of repeated exposure during hospital visits in comparison to the healthy general population, who are less likely to visit hospitals during the pandemic. The study aims to provide an alternate perspective and instigate discussion over the continuation of providing cancer care amidst the pandemic.
Legal entity responsible for the study
The author.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
The author has declared no conflicts of interest.