Course and Consequences of COVID-19 Infection in CancerPatients: Single-Center Experience

Abstract

Objectives: Herein, we aimed to contribute to the literature on our single-center experience of the course and conse quence of COVID-19 infection on cancer patients, presenting the demographic characteristics, clinical course, mortalityrates, and the laboratory parameters of cancer patients infected with COVID-19. Methods: Demographic and clinical characteristics, non-cancerous comorbid diseases, treatment modalities for cancerand COVID-19 infection, laboratory tests including blood counts and serum biochemistry, inflammatory markers, andthoracic CT scans were evaluated. Results: A total of thirty-eight patients infected with COVID-19 confirmed with a positive nasopharyngeal swab poly merase chain reaction (PCR) were identified, and their data were included in the final analysis. The mortality rate dueto COVID-19 infection was 26.3%. All deaths were observed in metastatic patients. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR) was higher in cancer patients with COVID-19 mortality (p=0.0003). C-reactive protein (CRP) and d-dimer valueswere higher in cancer patients who died due to COVID-19 as well (p=0.04 and 0.018, respectively). Of cancer patientsinfected with COVID-19, 57.9% had delays in cancer treatment and 73.7% had delays in follow-up appointments. Themedian delay time was 25 days (range: 7-63 days). Cancer progression was observed in 7.9% of patients due to delaysin follow-up appointments caused by COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: Both COVID-19 and cancer are severe life-threatening diseases, and mortality rates are much higher incancer patients. Metastatic disease and increased inflammatory markers are associated with COVID-19 associated mor tality in cancer patients. Additionally, COVID-19 infection results in delays in treatment and follow-up of cancer patients.This also resulted in disease progression. Further studies are needed to identify the best treatment modalities for the at risk cancer patient population and reduce delays in treatment and follow-up of cancer patients infected with COVID-19.