Risk of COVID-19 in Patients with Cancer Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the rate of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) among patients with cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Materials and Methods This was a retrospective study of 1,545 patients with cancer treated with ICIs between July 1, 2019, and February 29, 2020, and 20,418 age-, sex-, and cancer category-matched controls in a large referral hospital system. Confirmed COVID-19 case and mortality data were obtained with Massachusetts Department of Public Health from March 1 through June 19, 2020. Results The mean age was 66.6 years, and 41.9% were female. There were 22 (1.4%) and 213 (1.0%) COVID-19 cases in the ICI and control groups, respectively. When adjusting for demographics, medical comorbidities, and local infection rates, ICIs did not increase COVID-19 susceptibility. Conclusion ICIs did not increase the rate of COVID-19. This information may assist patients and their oncologists in decision-making surrounding cancer treatment during this pandemic.

Automated summary

The study aimed to determine the rate of COVID-19 among cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Results showed that there was no significant increase in COVID-19 susceptibility in the ICI group compared to controls. This information may help patients and oncologists make decisions about cancer treatment during the pandemic.