12 Aug COVID-19 and Cancer: a Comprehensive Review
Rohit Gosain, Yara Abdou, Abhay Singh, Navpreet Rana, Igor Puzanov, Marc S Ernstoff.
ABSTRACT
Purpose of the review: The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become the largest global health threat worldwide, now infecting more than 1,7 million people and claiming more than 100.000 lives. lives around the world. Under these unprecedented circumstances, there are no well-established guidelines for cancer patients.
Recent Findings: The risk of severe illness and death in COVID-19 cases increases with advancing age and the presence of comorbidity. Since the emergence of the first case in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, enormous research efforts have been undertaken to understand the infection mechanisms and transmissibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), a deadly virus. To minimize the mortality rate, it is prudent to identify symptoms quickly and employ treatments appropriately. Although a cure has not been established, multiple clinical trials are underway to determine the most optimal strategy. Management of cancer patients in these circumstances is quite challenging, given their vulnerable state and the aggressive nature of their underlying disease. In this comprehensive review, we discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the health and immune system of those affected, reviewing the latest treatment approaches and ongoing clinical trials. Additionally, we discuss the challenges in treating cancer patients and propose possible approaches to manage this vulnerable population during this pandemic.