Death rates spike for patients with cancer and COVID-19 who are treated with certain anti-cancer therapies at certain times

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-09/uoc-uss091820.php

News Release 19-Sep-2020
University of Cincinnati

University of Cincinnati researchers have found that certain treatments for cancer may increase the chance of death if they contract COVID-19.

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"Of the 3,600 patients analyzed from 122 institutions across the country, we found that 30-day mortality was highest among cancer patients treated one to three months prior to COVID-19 diagnosis and was highest for those treated with a chemotherapy/immunotherapy combination," continues Wise-Draper, a UC Health oncologist and member of the UC Cancer Center. "Death was especially high in those receiving anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, which are normally used to deplete abnormal B cells common for certain lymphomas, one to three months prior to COVID-19 infection - a time period for which significant B-cell depletion develops."

She adds that death was higher for those undergoing active cancer treatment, except for endocrine therapy, when compared to patients untreated within a year prior to COVID-19 diagnosis.

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