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COVID-19 vaccines for patients with cancer: benefits likely outweigh risks

Journal of Hematology & Oncology volume 14, Article number: 38 (2021) Cite this article

Abstract

Less than a year since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, ten vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been approved for at least limited use, with over sixty others in clinical trials. This swift achievement has generated excitement and arrives at a time of great need, as the number of COVID-19 cases worldwide continues to rapidly increase. Two vaccines are currently approved for full use, both built on mRNA and lipid nanotechnology platforms, a success story of mRNA technology 20 years in the making. For patients with cancer, questions arise around the safety and efficacy of these vaccines in the setting of immune alterations engendered by their malignancy and/or therapies. We summarize the current data on leading COVID-19 vaccine candidates and vaccination of patients undergoing immunomodulatory cancer treatments. Most current cancer therapeutics should not prevent the generation of protective immunity. We call for more research in this area and recommend that the majority of patients with cancer receive COVID vaccinations when possible.

Natural immunity to SARS-CoV-2

Protective immunity against viral infections involves humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity (Fig. 1). Humoral immunity is provided by B lymphocytes which produce antibodies which may neutralize virus by binding virus and preventing its entry into host cells. Cell-mediated immunity includes macrophages and CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which eliminate infected cells. CD4+ T lymphocytes help to activate B and CD8+ T cells, which promote the generation of highly effective antibody responses and memory. CD4+ helper T cell subsets include Th1 which promotes cell-mediated immunity and opsonizing IgG antibodies, and Th2 which promotes IgE antibodies and, broadly, allergic-type inflammation. Following infection, antigen-specific memory B and T cells persist and recall immune responses upon repeat encounter. In a viral infection, these protective immune responses are initiated by professional antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells, which capture, process, and display viral peptides to MHC molecules to prime naïve antigen-specific T cells in the secondary lymphoid tissues. Productive T cell priming often requires additional stimulatory cytokines and co-stimulatory molecules. The goal of a vaccine is to provide stimulation by the desired antigen(s) in a context that mimics infection enough to elicit protective memory immunity with a tolerable safety profile. Productive immunogenic vaccines often require adjuvants and/or a "prime-boost" strategy of repeated doses to enhance durable immune responses.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Different types of COVID19 vaccines in development, mechanisms of antigen presentation, and generation of protective immunity

Full size image

What immune responses are desired for protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2? Re-challenge models in rhesus macaques indicated that primary exposure to SARS-CoV-2 is protective against re-infection [1]. Convalescent patients after COVID-19 infections have high levels of neutralizing antibodies, particularly to the spike glycoprotein of the virus, which mediates host cell attachment and viral entry [2]. Animal models indicate that passive transfer of neutralizing antibodies are protective against SARS-CoV-2 infection [3, 4], and early administration of convalescent plasma protects against progression of COVID-19 disease in human trials[5]. However, antibodies are not sufficient, at least for clearing established disease, since high titers of neutralizing antibodies are found in patients with severe disease [6]. In this regard, convalescent COVID-19 patients also have high levels of virus-specific T cells [7]. CD4+ T-cell responses appear to be at least as important as CD8+ T-cell responses and recognize the spike protein among others [8, 9]. Neutralizing antibody, memory B and memory T cells specific to SARS-CoV-2 have now been found in convalescent patients after six months [2, 10, 11]. In addition, one study identified a subset of individuals who rapidly resolved symptoms after being infected by COVID-19 and found that they sustained both antibody production and memory CD4+ T-cells several months after infection [9]. While immune correlates of protection have yet to be defined in humans, the data overall support that the integration of humoral and cell-mediated immunity to SARS-CoV-2 are the key to protection and can be highly effective and durable.

There are also immune responses that would be undesirable from a vaccine. In studies of SARS-CoV-1, immunization with inactivated virus provoked Th2-mediated lung immunopathology upon infection [12, 13]. This immunopathology was observed in animal data and has not been observed for SARS-CoV-2 in non-human primate models [14, 15]. Nevertheless, investigators seek to minimize this risk by eliciting a Th1-skewed CD4+ T-cell response. Another concern that has been raised in the literature is that of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of disease, mediated by antibodies that bind to but do not neutralize the virus. ADE takes two main forms [16]. In one form, well characterized in dengue infections, virus is bound by antibody and the antibody-virus complex is internalized via interactions with Fc gamma receptor into macrophages where it replicates. In the other form, non-neutralizing antibodies mediate the formation of immune complexes, which incite inflammation. ADE has been proposed as a concern for COVID-19 vaccine design due to the finding of high levels of antibodies in severe COVID-19 and in vitro observations that SARS-CoV-2 is taken up by macrophages [16]. However, there are explanations for high antibody levels in severe diseases other than antibody-mediated harm, including chronic antigen stimulation and insufficiency of the antibody response to clear established disease as described above. Importantly, SARS-CoV-2 does not productively replicate in macrophages, making the macrophage-mediated type of ADE less relevant. There is no compelling evidence of ADE from convalescent plasma trials [5, 17, 18] or any of the human vaccine trials thus far. Nevertheless, the likelihood of ADE is theoretically diminished by vaccines that focus the elicited antibody response on neutralizing epitopes.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in use:

At the time of writing, an astounding 66 COVID-19 vaccines are being tested in clinical trials, with 10 approved for at least limited use. Multiple platforms are represented among the leading candidates [19, 20], each with pros and cons (Table 1).

Table 1 Advantages and disadvantages of various types of COVID19 vaccines in development
Full size table

Inactivated vaccines

Inactivated vaccines contain intact microbe that has been killed (e.g. the quadrivalent influenza vaccine). Inactivated vaccines present the entire virus and thus breadth of antigens to the immune system, but may require an adjuvant to boost immunogenicity and are generally poor inducers of CD8+ T cell immunity. Moreover, production of these vaccines is slow because it requires large-scale culture and inactivation. CoronaVac, a chemically inactivated vaccine by SinoVac, is provided in two doses two weeks apart and uses aluminum adjuvant. In phase I/II trials, it produced no serious adverse events and > 90% seroconversion, but lower titers than in convalescent patients, and low T cell responses [21]. CoronaVac is licensed for limited use in China while phase III trials are underway. Sinopharm has developed two other inactivated vaccines which induced humoral responses in humans in Phase I/II studies [22] and are in limited use. Of note, aluminum adjuvants have been noted to initiate Th2 responses. In addition, ADE is theoretically more likely with inactivated intact vaccines due to the inclusion of non-neutralizing epitopes. Nevertheless, there have been no reports of ADE.

Protein subunit vaccines

Subunit vaccines contain an isolated protein of the target pathogen, produced recombinantly in cell culture and purified (e.g., hepatitis B vaccine). Subunit vaccines circumvent dangers associated with introducing intact pathogen and the specific protein can be chosen to focus the immune response on particular epitopes (e.g., neutralizing epitopes). Subunit vaccines stimulate CD4+ T-cell and antibody responses. However, since the protein is produced ex vivo in cell culture, it may not retain native post-translational modifications or conformation. In addition, exogenous isolated proteins are not efficiently presented via the pathways that stimulate cytotoxic T cells, so subunit vaccines generally require adjuvants for immunogenicity. NVX-CoV2373, developed by Novavax, contains full length spike protein produced from insect cells. In phase I/II trials [23], NVX-CoV2373 elicited high neutralizating antibody titers when delivered with adjuvant, exceeding titers in a panel of convalescent patients. Th1-type CD4+ T-cell responses were observed in most participants. CD8+ T-cell responses were not reported. No serious adverse events were noted, and reactogenicity was generally mild to moderate, with fever in only 1 of 83 vaccinated participants. Phase III trials are underway.

Replication-incompetent viral vectored vaccines

Viral-vectored vaccines contain a delivery virus (e.g., adenovirus) that has been recombinantly engineered to contain genes encoding antigens of choice from the target pathogen. Upon inoculation, the engineered virus infects host cells, leading to expression of the vaccine antigen. Often the recombinant virus is rendered replication-defective, so that host cells can be infected but cannot form new viral particles. Viral vector vaccines avoid introduction of intact target pathogen and result in endogenous antigen production mimicking natural infection, and thus are expected to elicit both humoral and cellular immunity. A disadvantage is that anti-vector immunity may interfere with prime-boost strategies or lead to low efficacy from preexisting anti-vector immunity.

ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (also known as AZD1222), developed by AstraZeneca, is a replication-deficient chimpanzee recombinant adenoviral vector vaccine containing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein administered as a two-dose prime-boost regimen. The interim analysis of randomized controlled trials of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 found a vaccine efficacy of 62%-90% depending on dosing regimen and age [24, 25]. Of 10 participants hospitalized due to COVID-19 including one fatal case, all were in the control group. Reactogenicity was more common with the vaccine versus control. Serious adverse events were overall balanced between experimental and control groups, but did include a case of transverse myelitis following ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 booster vaccination. This case led to a temporary pause in the phase II/III trial. The vaccine was eventually authorized for emergency use in the UK, Argentina, and India. Unlike the approved mRNA vaccines (see below), it is stable for months at refrigeration temperatures.

Ad5-nCoV, produced by CanSino Biologics, is a replication-deficient adenovirus type-5 vectored vaccine containing full-length spike gene administered as a single dose [26]. Phase I studies showed good tolerability and immunogenicity with induction of both specific T-cell and humoral responses. However, the phase II study [27] showed induction of S-protein neutralizing antibodies in only 47–59% of vaccinated participants, thought to be due to preexisting immunity to adenovirus type 5. This vaccine has been approved for limited use in China.

Ad26.COV2.S developed by Johnson & Johnson uses a non-replicating adenovirus-serotype 26 vector expressing full-length spike glycoprotein. A single dose elicited strong neutralizing antibodies and protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge in rhesus macaques [28]. Phase I/IIa interim results [29] reported one vaccine-related serious adverse event (fever leading to hospitalization). There was a trend for overall higher reactogenicity with younger age, including the occurrence of fevers in 19% of younger participants and 4% of older participants. The seroconversion rate was 83–100% at day 29 by viral neutralization assays depending on dose and age of recipient. Cell-mediated responses were also observed: 80–83% of patients had Th1-skewed CD4+ T-cell responses, and 51–64% had CD8+ T cell responses. If approved, pending phase III trial results, Ad26.COV2.S would have the advantages of potentially being administered as a single-dose regimen and stable storage at refrigeration temperatures.

Other candidates include Sputnik V [30] developed by Gamaleya, which employs two different adenoviral vectors in a heterologous prime-boost strategy to circumvent anti-vector immunity to the prime. Phase I/II trials reported elicitation of humoral and cell-mediated responses in all participants, without serious adverse events. Sputnik V is in use in Russia with peer review of phase III trial results pending.

Nucleic acid vaccines

Nucleic acid vaccines contain nucleic acids encoding a protein antigen. Upon inoculation, the nucleic acids are taken up by antigen presenting cells and expressed. Like viral-delivered nucleic acids (i.e., viral vectored vaccines), nucleic acid vaccines mimic natural infection with endogenous antigen production and eliciting strong T and B cell responses, while being entirely non-infectious. Making gene constructs at scale is more rapid than producing recombinant protein or inactivated pathogens, which is advantageous for vaccination against emerging virus variants which has already been reported for SARS-CoV-2 worldwide [31].

Nucleic acid vaccine candidates include DNA plasmid vaccines and mRNA vaccines. A spike-protein expressing DNA vaccine was shown to elicit humoral and cellular immunity in rhesus macaques [32]. Four DNA vaccines are in at least phase II or III trials including Inovio's INO-4800, with efficacy data in humans pending. mRNA vaccines have additional advantages over DNA and other vaccine platforms [33, 34]. mRNA is the normal intermediate between protein-encoding DNA and the production of protein in the cytoplasm. Thus whereas DNA vaccines need to be delivered into the cell nucleus, mRNA vaccines are delivered to the cytosol, avoiding risk of host genome integration. mRNA is the minimal genetic vector for translation of the antigen, avoiding anti-vector immunity. Furthermore, mRNA is transient, degraded by ubiquitous RNAses and normal cellular processes. While mRNA vaccines had not previously been licensed for human use, they have been under development since the 1990s, including as cancer vaccines encoding neoepitopes with early trials in patients with melanoma. [35, 36]. Advancements in mRNA delivery, particularly lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology enabling the encapsulation and endosomal release of mRNA to the cytoplasm, have been key innovations that overcame initial concerns about the intrinsic fragility of mRNA and inefficient in vivo delivery [37]. Also key were discoveries of how to modulate the intrinsic immunogenicity of mRNA using modified nucleosides [38]. By 2017, Phase I trials had been performed of LNP-encapsulated mRNA vaccines against influenza, showing high seroconversion rates with an excellent safety profile [39].

Both of the vaccines approved under emergency use in the United States – BNT162b2, developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, and mRNA-1273, developed by Moderna – are LNP-formulated, nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccines encoding the SARS-CoV-2 full-length spike protein modified by two proline mutations to lock it in pre-fusion conformation, given as a two-dose prime-boost regimen 21 days (for BNT162b2) or 28 days (for mRNA-1273) apart.

Phase I studies of BNT162b2 showed 100% anti-spike seropositivity by day 21, boosted further by day 28 to titers above those of a COVID-19 human convalescent panel [40]. A follow-up preprint [41] reported also expansion of spike-specific CD8+ and Th1 subtype CD4+ T cell responses, with a high fraction producing interferon-γ. In the phase III trial, 43,548 participants were randomized to two doses of BNT162b2 versus placebo, 37,706 of whom had sufficient follow up (median 2 months) [42]. There were 162 cases of laboratory-confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 among 18,325 participants in the placebo cohort, compared to 8 cases among 18,198 participants in the vaccinated cohort, yielding a vaccine efficacy of 95%. Efficacy was maintained (> 91%) across age and underlying medical conditions. There were 10 cases of severe COVID-19, 9 in the placebo cohort and 1 in the vaccine cohort. Reactogenicity was frequent and mostly mild to moderate, with more than half of vaccinated participants experiencing fatigue and headaches, particularly after the second dose. Systemic adverse reactions resolved in a median of 1 day and included fever in 16% of younger participants and 11% of older participants [43]. Four patients out of 21,720 treated with at least one dose of vaccine developed Bell’s palsy at 3, 9, 37, and 48 days after vaccination and all resolved within 3 weeks (at 3, 10, 15, and 21 days, respectively). [43] 8.8% had grade ≥ 3 reactions (most common were fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, and injection site pain) [40]. Few had severe adverse events (1.1% in BNT162b2 cohort, 0.6% in the placebo cohort). Few had serious adverse events (0.6% vs 0.5%), of which 1.6% (shoulder injury, lymphadenopathy) were considered by the FDA to be likely related to the vaccine [43].

Phase I studies of mRNA-1273 showed 100% anti-spike seropositivity in all dose groups, and S-specific Th1 subtype CD4+ T-cell expansion. CD8+ T cell responses were detected at low levels. An updated analysis of the phase I study reports durability of the humoral response, with titers remaining above those of convalescent controls at 90 days after second immunization [44]. In the phase III trial, 30,420 participants were randomized to mRNA-1273 versus placebo. There were 185 cases of symptomatic COVID-19 infection in the placebo group and 11 in the vaccinated group, yielding a vaccine efficacy of 94.1% [45]. Efficacy was maintained (≥ 86%) across age, sex, race, and underlying medical conditions [46]. There were 30 cases of severe COVID-19, all in the placebo group [46]. Reactogenicity was frequent, mostly mild to moderate. Systemic adverse reactions resolved in a mean of 3 days. Grade ≥ 3 reactions occurred in 21.6% in the mRNA-1273 recipients versus 4.4% in placebo. Four Bell’s palsy cases were reported: 3 cases in 15,181 people treated in the vaccine group and 1 case in 15,170 people treated in the placebo group. These cases occurred at 22, 27, 28, and 32 days after vaccination, with resolution in 3 cases and one ongoing at the time of the FDA review. Few had serious adverse events (1.0% in vaccine recipients versus 1.0% in placebo), of which 2.1% (nausea/vomiting, facial swelling) were considered by the FDA to be likely related to vaccination [47].

In sum, both mRNA vaccines offer highly effective protection against symptomatic COVID-19 infection, mediated by a combined humoral and cell-mediated immune response with frequent reactogenicity but low to no serious adverse effects. mRNA-1273 has a logistical advantage over BNT162b2, being stable at refrigeration temperatures, compared to ultracold (-70 °C) temperatures for BNT162b2.

Implications for patients with cancer

Patients with cancer are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 [15, 48,49,50,51]. In a study of 73 million patients in the USA, of whom 273,000 had been diagnosed with cancer in the last year and 16,570 were diagnosed with COVID-19, patients with cancer had greatly increased odds of COVID-19 infection (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 7; [52]). Odds of infection were highest for patients with recently diagnosed leukemia (aOR 12.2), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (aOR 8.5), and lung cancer (aOR 7.7). Mortality is also higher in patients with cancer who develop COVID-19: patients with cancer and COVID-19 have a greater risk of mortality (14.9%) than patients with COVID-19 without cancer (5.3%) and patients with cancer without COVID-19 (4.0%) [52]. For patients diagnosed with a hematologic malignancy in the last 5 years, the increased risk of death has been estimated to be at least 2.5-fold, and for other cancers, at least 1.2-fold [48].

Because of the increased vulnerability of patients with cancer to COVID-19 infections and mortality, there is urgent interest in vaccinating this population expeditiously. Considerations around expected safety and efficacy differ by therapy based on their general mechanisms and associated immune alterations.

Considerations for patients treated with cytotoxic chemotherapies

Cytotoxic chemotherapies interfere with DNA replication, synthesis, and cell cycle progression. Lymphocytes proliferate rapidly as part of activation and so are suppressed by these therapies [53]. However, suppression is not complete and immune responses can nevertheless be elicited to vaccination while on cytotoxic chemotherapy. Patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, in which the immune system is directly impacted by disease as well as treatment, can still generate immune responses after vaccination, ranging from 10 and 27% of patients immunized with hepatitis B and meningococcal subunit vaccines, respectively, to 100% of patients immunized with diphtheria and tetanus toxoid vaccines [54,55,56]. In studies of responses to the annual inactivated influenza vaccine in patients with cancer, 10–42% of patients with hematologic malignancies responded to one dose of influenza vaccine [57,58,59], with additional responses with a second dose [57, 58]. Higher responses are seen in patients with solid tumors on chemotherapy [60]: at least 78% in patients with lung cancer [61] and 81% of patients with breast cancer [59] on mild to moderately immunosuppressive regimens. When given between cycles of chemotherapy for lung or breast cancer, timing relative to the last cycle may matter, though estimates of the optimal day varies [60, 62, 63]. Vaccination was well-tolerated in these studies. Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and The European Conference on Infections in Leukemia (ECIL) guidelines recommend yearly vaccination with inactivated influenza vaccine—an exception is during intensive therapy (e.g., induction and consolidation therapy for acute leukemias) given likely poor response, but considered reasonable given seasonal nature of influenza [64, 65]. Hepatitis B subunit and pneumococcus vaccinations may also be recommended even during chemotherapy [65, 66]. Titers can be helpful to assess need for revaccination [64, 66]. Higher doses or boosters are employed to enhance immunogenicity to inactivated influenza, pneumococcal polysaccharide, and hepatitis B subunit vaccines [64,65,66]. Overall, with the exception of during periods of intensive chemotherapy, patients undergoing chemotherapy are expected to generate protective responses with COVID-19 vaccination.

Considerations for patients treated with targeted therapies

Targeted therapies include receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as erlotinib, sunitinib, and imatinib or monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab. Targeted therapies should not directly cause immunosuppression as part of their mechanism of action, but may have unintended inhibitory effects on antigen presenting cell function, T cell activation [67] and B cell signaling [68]. Nevertheless, patients treated with sunitinib or sorafenib develop seroprotection with the influenza vaccine comparable to healthy controls [69]. Similarly, patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) on TKIs develop seroprotection after the influenza vaccine at reduced but still substantial rates around 40% [68]. There was also no difference in seroprotection against influenza when comparing controls versus patients with breast cancer treated with anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody trastuzumab [70]. Ibrutinib, an inhibitor of Bruton tyrosine kinase essential for B-cell receptor signaling, maturation, and immunoglobulin synthesis, unsurprisingly impairs responses, producing seroconversion in only 7–26% of patients after influenza vaccination [71, 72], though 75% of patients on ibrutinib were able to respond to subunit vaccines against varicella zoster [73]. The ECIL group recommends that patients with CML on TKIs receive the yearly inactivated influenza vaccine and to be vaccinated against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Thus, it is reasonable to expect that patients being treated with targeted therapies will generate protective responses with COVID-19 vaccination.

Considerations for patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors

Immune checkpoint inhibitors target immunosuppressive pathways such as programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) that are upregulated in tumor-reactive T cells, thereby enhancing immune responses and endogenous anti-tumor activity. While cancers such as lung cancers and comorbidities such as smoking have been associated with higher severity of COVID-19 infections [50, 74, 75], concurrent immune checkpoint inhibitor treatments for patients with lung cancer have not been associated with more severe infections or mortality when adjusted for smoking status [76].

Checkpoint inhibitors incur a risk of immune-related adverse events (IRAEs), at a rate of 17–48% for any grade and 5–8% severe grade, depending on the specific therapy [77]. There is a theoretical concern that vaccination could stimulate an overexuberant immune response and increase IRAEs in patients actively treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. A 2018 study of 23 patients on immune checkpoint inhibitors who received the influenza vaccine found a high rate of IRAEs (52%). However, subsequent larger studies including three with non-vaccinated comparison groups did not show higher frequencies of IRAEs with vaccination [78, 79]. Moreover, immune checkpoint inhibitors are considered safe to use in patients with chronic HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C infections, suggesting that stimulation by viral antigens is safe even in the context of bona fide infection [79]. Furthermore, influenza vaccine-induced seroprotection is generally not substantially diminished [78, 80]. Thus, we expect that patients on immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy should make protective responses with COVID-19 vaccination. Whether IRAEs increase after COVID-19 vaccinations warrants close study. In the interim, it may safe from a cancer treatment perspective to delay immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in some settings [81].

Considerations for patients treated with lymphodepleting or plasma cell depleting therapies

Lymphodepleting and plasma cell depleting therapies include anti-CD20 antibodies used for treatment of hematologic malignancies and autoimmune diseases as well as anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies used in the treatment of multiple myeloma. Anti-CD20 treatments deplete peripheral B cells for at least 4 months [82, 83] and during this period impairs immune responses to vaccination including those against influenza, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenza [84, 85]. T cells may also be reduced as a consequence of the reduced pool of antigen-presenting B cells [84, 86].

Adoptive cellular immunotherapy targeting B cells to treat hematologic malignancies include CAR-T cells against CD19, which is expressed by nearly all B cells. Anti-CD19 therapy is B cell depleting, with high likelihood of subduing antibody responses to vaccination and increasing susceptibility to severe disease from COVID-19. There is little data on the immunogenicity and safety of vaccinations after CD19-targeted CAR-T cell therapy. Expert opinion of a committee of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends that vaccination should be delayed for at least 3 months post-hematopoietic cell transplant or cellular therapy [87]. Previously established plasma cells may not be affected by anti-CD19 therapies owing to their lack of CD19 expression, so vaccine or pathogen-specific serum immunoglobulins may be maintained post-treatment [88].

Anti-CD38 therapies target plasma cells and are therefore also B-cell depleting. T cell activation may conversely be enhanced due to the expression of CD38 on immunosuppressive cell populations [89]. In patients with multiple myeloma treated with daratumumab, the frequency of normal plasma cells in bone marrow samples is decreased as well as levels of polyclonal immunoglobulins. However, IgG levels and induction of protective antibody titers were intact against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae B and seasonal influenza at a median of 2 months after treatment, presumably due to a subset of plasma cells expressing reduced levels of CD38 that escape treatment [90].

In practice, it is recommended that vaccines be given at least 6 months after anti-B cell therapy due to likely futility [64, 66]. Despite expected reduced responses, an exception is made for the influenza vaccine which is given yearly, though ideally at least 2 weeks prior to lymphodepleting chemotherapies [91]. Patients on anti-B cell therapy are at especially high risk for severe disease and death from COVID-19 and prolonged viral shedding [92, 93], and thus, a similar exception would be reasonable to apply to COVID-19 vaccination.

Considerations for patients treated with radiation

Radiation therapy is commonly used for patients with malignancies both in the curative and palliative settings. While it is known that radiation involving a large part of the body can indeed have impact on the bone marrow, it is rare for radiation to have a significant impact on the immune system to the point where vaccination would not be recommended. The main situation for radiation to affect immune cell generation is in the event of total body irradiation (TBI) given for marrow suppression prior to stem cell transplantation or other rare situations where patients are receiving total lymph node or spine irradiation. Therefore, most patients treated with radiation should generate protective immunity responses to COVID-19 vaccines.

Recommendations and Conclusions

Hopes for a COVID-19 vaccine are now a reality. The BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 mRNA vaccines are safe and highly effective (efficacy > 94%). A vaccine would be lifesaving for patients with cancer, who are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 disease and mortality than the general population. Expedited vaccination of cancer patients is therefore urgent given the continuing rise in community transmission of the disease.

Patients on cancer treatments have been excluded from COVID-19 vaccine trials thus far. Thus, we make recommendations based on what we know of the safety and efficacy of the leading vaccine candidates, performance of other vaccines in patients with cancer, and immune alterations inherent in current cancer treatments.

From a safety standpoint, trials of the leading mRNA vaccine candidates have not detected vaccine-related serious adverse events. In many cases there has been substantial reactogenicity. This is not trivial for patients with cancer, for whom (as an example) fever carries a concerning differential (e.g., infection, disease recurrence, etc.). Even so, trials find that reactogenic symptoms have generally been self-limited on the order of days. We do not anticipate safety concerns specific to patients with cancer receiving mRNA vaccines. As is true for the general public, care must be taken for those with history of anaphylaxis to components of the vaccine. Other leading candidates detailed here also appear to be generally safe. Of note, live vaccines are generally not recommended in patients undergoing targeted, cytotoxic, or lymphodepleting therapies [64,65,66], and a live COVID-19 vaccine should one eventually become available would also not be recommended.

From an efficacy standpoint, we expect that most cancer therapies will not inhibit the generation of protective responses by the vaccine. Lymphodepleting and intensive myelosuppressive chemotherapies will blunt the humoral and/or cell-mediated responses that are likely important for full protection against COVID-19. Nevertheless, some protection is likely beneficial. Depending on the phase and urgency of a patient's cancer treatment, there may be flexibility to optimize the timing of COVID-19 vaccinations (e.g., COVID-19 vaccination followed by anti-B cell therapy several weeks later) as is sometimes practiced for other vaccines.

In sum, we expect the leading COVID-19 vaccines to be safe and at least partly effective in patients with cancer. We recommend that patients with cancer receive COVID-19 vaccinations when they become available, acknowledging that while we do not have truly representative data, benefits likely outweigh risks. This is in keeping with the US CDC recommendation for immunocompromised individuals and the expert opinion of panelists at a joint meeting of the IDSA and ASCO following the approval of BNT162b2 [94], as well as recent guidelines and recommendations from Society of Immunotherapy of Cancer [95], the European Society for Medical Oncology [96], and the AACR COVID-19 and cancer task force [97]. Most recently, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) COVID-19 vaccination advisory committee have released recommendations on COVID-19 vaccines, which align with our recommendations above. Given the potentially blunted efficacy of vaccines, as well as the lack of data thus far on preventing asymptomatic transmission or durability of protection, we recommend that caregivers of patients with cancer be vaccinated and that all vaccine recipients continue social distancing, hygiene, and mask precautions. We further advocate for the creation of a national registry for patients with cancer receiving active cancer treatment and COVID-19 vaccines to facilitate clinical trials of patients with cancer receiving these vaccines, which will be the key to fully elucidate the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in this complex population. Collectively, we will see our patients safely through this pandemic.

Availability of data and materials

The material supporting the conclusion of this review has been included within the article.

Abbreviations

ADE:

Antibody-dependent enhancement

aOR:

Adjusted odds ratio

CD20:

Cluster of differentiation 20

CD38:

Cluster of differentiation 38

CD4:

Cluster of differentiation 4

CD8:

Cluster of differentiation 8

COVID-19:

Coronavirus disease 2019

CTLA-4:

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

ECIL:

European Conference on Infections in Leukemia

FDA:

US Food and Drug Administration

HIV:

Human immunodeficiency virus

IDSA:

Infectious Diseases Society of America

IgG:

Immunoglobulin G

IRAE:

Immune-related adverse events

LNP:

Lipid nanoparticle

MHC:

Major histocompatibility complex

mRNA:

Messenger RNA

NCCN:

National Comprehensive Cancer Network

PD-1:

Programmed cell death protein 1

RNA:

Ribonucleic acid

SARS-CoV-2:

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

Th1:

T-helper lymphocyte type 1

Th2:

T-helper lymphocyte type 2

TKI:

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Jianda Yuan for his insights and review of this manuscript, based on affiliation within the Chinese American Hematologist and Oncologist Network (CAHON.org). The authors acknowledge the academic environments at their respective institutions for the time dedicated to this work.

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  1. Joyce K. Hwang and Tian Zhang contributed equally to this work

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA

    Joyce K. Hwang

  2. Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Duke Cancer Institute, DUMC Box 103861, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Tian Zhang

  3. Duke Cancer Institute Center for Prostate and Urologic Cancers, Durham, NC, USA

    Tian Zhang

  4. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Andrew Z. Wang

  5. Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The OH State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James, Columbus, OH, USA

    Zihai Li

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Competing interest

Dr. Zhang reports research funding (to Duke) from Pfizer, Janssen, Acerta, Abbvie, Novartis, Merrimack, OmniSeq, PGDx, Merck, Mirati, Astellas, and Regeneron; consulting/speaking with Genentech Roche, Exelixis, Genomic Health, and Sanofi Aventis; and consulting/advisory board with AstraZeneca, Bayer, Pfizer, Foundation Medicine, Janssen, Amgen, BMS, Calithera, Dendreon, and MJH Associates; and stock ownership/employment (spouse) from Capio Biosciences, Archimmune Therapeutics, and Nanorobotics. Dr. Hwang has no disclosures. Dr. Wang has stock ownership/co-founder of Capio Biosciences and Archimmune Therapeutics. He is a scientific advisory board member for Focus-X and Nanorobotics, and has sponsored research funding from Varian Medical Systems and Archimmune Therapeutics. Dr. Li is a scientific advisory board member for Heat Biologics, Alphamab (chair), Hengenix and Ioknisys.

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Hwang, J.K., Zhang, T., Wang, A.Z. et al. COVID-19 vaccines for patients with cancer: benefits likely outweigh risks. J Hematol Oncol 14, 38 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13045-021-01046-w

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Journal of Hematology & Oncology

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