Italian survey on the clinical management of non-small cell lung cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: A lesson for the second wave

Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2021 Jan:157:103189. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2020.103189. Epub 2020 Nov 27.

Abstract

This study investigated the clinical management of non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients during the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Italy. A 29-questions survey was sent to 95 Italian thoracic oncologists, with 77 % of them declaring significant changes in the outpatients management and treatment. The results of this survey pointed out a significant delay of lung cancer diagnosis along with a relevant reduction of patients' accrual within clinical trials. Telemedicine emerged as a valid support for patient-healthcare interactions. Therapeutic indications followed the guidelines for adjuvant chemotherapy and concurrent chemo-radiation. Clinical indications to first-line therapies were largely confirmed, while major changes regarded the selection of second line treatment options as well as the management of elderly population. This work may represent a valid source of information to improve the clinical management of NSCLC patients during second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; Lung cancer; Outpatient management; SARS‐CoV‐2; Survey.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / therapy
  • Chemoradiotherapy
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Lung Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Lung Neoplasms* / epidemiology
  • Lung Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Pandemics
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Surveys and Questionnaires