Protective measures for patients with advanced cancer during the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic: Quo vadis?

Clin Exp Metastasis. 2021 Jun;38(3):257-261. doi: 10.1007/s10585-021-10083-1. Epub 2021 Mar 23.

Abstract

Cancer patients represent a vulnerable cohort during the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic. Oncological societies have generated a plethora of recommendations, but precise instructions about routine oncological procedures remain scarce. Here, we report on local COVID-19 protection measures established in an interdisciplinary approach at a tertiary care center during the first wave of the pandemia in Germany. Following these measures, no additional morbidity or mortality during oncological procedures was observed, and no nosocomial infections were registered. However, Validation of our measures is outstanding and regional SARS-CoV-2 prevalence was low. However, specific oncological measures might be important to ensure optimal oncological results, especially for advanced cancer stages during this and future pandemia. In the future, communication about these measures might be crucial to a cancer patient´s assigned network to reduce the danger of excess mortality within the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cancer; Metastasis; Sars-CoV-19; Treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / prevention & control*
  • COVID-19 / transmission
  • COVID-19 / virology
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Infection Control / methods*
  • Infection Control / organization & administration
  • Infection Control / standards
  • Medical Oncology / methods*
  • Medical Oncology / organization & administration
  • Medical Oncology / standards
  • Neoplasms / complications
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Pandemics / prevention & control*
  • Pandemics / statistics & numerical data
  • Prevalence
  • SARS-CoV-2 / immunology
  • SARS-CoV-2 / pathogenicity
  • Tertiary Care Centers / organization & administration