Abstract
The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemia is a major health worldwide concern. Patients with cancer might have a worse outcome, because of the immunosuppression determined by the tumor itself and anti-cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The impact and course of viral infection in patients receiving immunotherapy remains unknown. We report the case of a patient with metastatic melanoma, long responder to anti PD-1 blockade who got infected with Sars CoV-2, recovering without sequelae. A critical review of literature was performed. Limited data available in literature support the possibility to continue the immunotherapy in patients with cancer under control.
Conclusion
Our case and limited data available in literature highlight the possibility to continue the anti-PD-1 treatment in patients with cancer, with a remission of disease and without other chronic conditions, and lead to speculate about a potential protective role of PD-1 blockade against COVID-19.
Given the wide use of anti-cancer immunotherapies in the current clinical practice, future studies on the interaction of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in patients with cancer and COVID-19 are warranted.
Declaration of interest
Pierfrancesco Ferrucci participated to Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis and Roche advisory boards, has served as consultant and received travel support from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche, Novartis, Merck Sharp & Dohme.
Emilia Cocorocchio partecipated to BMS and Roche advisory boards.
Paola Queirolo has received lecture fees from and served on the advisory board for Bristol-Myers Squibb, MSD, Novartis, Roche, Pierre Fabre, Sanofi, Merck and Sunpharma.
All other authors have declared no conflict of interest.