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COVID-19 infection during treatment with pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma
Affiliations- Department of Pneumonology, Oncology and Allergology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland
open access
Abstract
The use of pembrolizumab with chemotherapy in first-line treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is an opportunity for patients to suppress their disease and increase their chances of life extension. COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) vaccination is an opportunity for cancer patients to reduce their risk of disease and have a benign disease course. In this report, we present a benign course of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) infection in 68-year-old patient with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma undergoing chemoimmunotherapy who had previously received full COVID-19 vaccination. The control CT scans performed after 3 months of treatment showed partial regression of the tumor mass. On control tomography after 6 months, an intensification of fibro-consolidative changes and ground glass opacities were described. The lesions were characteristic of a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The neoplastic lesions described on tomography showed stabilization. After 9 months, long-term stabilization of the disease was achieved. Patients undergoing immunotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy may be at risk of developing severe COVID-19. Therefore, vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 should be strongly recommended in lung cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy.
Abstract
The use of pembrolizumab with chemotherapy in first-line treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is an opportunity for patients to suppress their disease and increase their chances of life extension. COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) vaccination is an opportunity for cancer patients to reduce their risk of disease and have a benign disease course. In this report, we present a benign course of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) infection in 68-year-old patient with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma undergoing chemoimmunotherapy who had previously received full COVID-19 vaccination. The control CT scans performed after 3 months of treatment showed partial regression of the tumor mass. On control tomography after 6 months, an intensification of fibro-consolidative changes and ground glass opacities were described. The lesions were characteristic of a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The neoplastic lesions described on tomography showed stabilization. After 9 months, long-term stabilization of the disease was achieved. Patients undergoing immunotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy may be at risk of developing severe COVID-19. Therefore, vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 should be strongly recommended in lung cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy.
Keywords
non-small cell lung cancer; COVID-19; pembrolizumab; immunotherapy
About this articleTitle
COVID-19 infection during treatment with pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma
Journal
Issue
Article type
Case report
Pages
406-409
Published online
2022-10-03
Page views
574
Article views/downloads
67
DOI
10.5603/OCP.2022.0023
Bibliographic record
Oncol Clin Pract 2022;18(6):406-409.
Keywords
non-small cell lung cancer
COVID-19
pembrolizumab
immunotherapy
Authors
Magdalena Wójcik-Superczyńska
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