Radical cancer treatment is safe during COVID-19: the real-world experience of a large London-based Comprehensive Cancer Centre during the first wave

Beth Russell; Charlotte Moss; Maria Monroy-Iglesias; Graham Roberts; Harvey Dickinson; Kate Haire; Kathryn Innes; Bansi Mulji-Shah; Fiona Castell; Omar Al-Salihi; Mary Lei; Angela Francis; Bill Dann; Vikash Jogia; Hisham Hamid; Ben Challacombe; Ricard Simo; Stephanie Fraser; Charalampos Gousis; Elinor Sawyer; Eirini Tsotra; Jose Roca; Muhammad Khan; Debra Josephs; Deborah Enting; Mieke Van Hemelrijck; Victoria Harris; Saoirse Dolly

doi:10.1038/s41416-022-01909-0

Radical cancer treatment is safe during COVID-19: the real-world experience of a large London-based Comprehensive Cancer Centre during the first wave

Beth Russell, Charlotte Moss^*, Maria Monroy-Iglesias, Graham Roberts, Harvey Dickinson, Kate Haire, Kathryn Innes, Bansi Mulji-Shah, Fiona Castell, Omar Al-Salihi, Mary Lei, Angela Francis, Bill Dann, Vikash Jogia, Hisham Hamid, Ben Challacombe, Ricard Simo, Stephanie Fraser, Charalampos Gousis, Elinor SawyerEirini Tsotra, Jose Roca, Muhammad Khan, Debra Josephs, Deborah Enting, Mieke Van Hemelrijck, Victoria Harris, Saoirse Dolly

^*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

Background: During the COVID pandemic, there was a paucity of data to support clinical decision-making for anticancer treatments. We evaluated the safety of radical treatments which were delivered whilst mitigating the risks of concurrent COVID-19 infection. Methods: Using descriptive statistics, we report on the characteristics and short-term clinical outcomes of patients undergoing radical cancer treatment during the first COVID-19 wave compared to a similar pre-pandemic period. Results: Compared to 2019, the number of patients undergoing radical treatment in 2020 reduced by: 28% for surgery; 18% for SACT; and 10% for RT. Within SACT, 36% received combination therapy, 35% systemic chemotherapy, 23% targeted treatments, 5% immunotherapy and 2% biological therapy. A similar proportion of RT was delivered in 2019 and 2020 (53% vs. 52%). Oncological outcomes were also similar to pre-COVID-19. The COVID-19 infection rates were low: 12 patients were positive pre surgery (1%), 7 post surgery (<1%), 17 SACT patients (2%) and 3 RT patients (<1%). No COVID-19-related deaths were reported. Conclusions: Whilst there were fewer patients receiving radical anticancer treatments, those who did receive treatment were treated in a safe environment. Overall, cancer patients should have the confidence to attend hospitals and be reassured of the safety measures implemented.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1289-1295
Number of pages	7
Journal	British journal of cancer
Volume	127
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-022-01909-0
Publication status	Published - 19 Oct 2022

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Russell, B., Moss, C., Monroy-Iglesias, M., Roberts, G., Dickinson, H., Haire, K., Innes, K., Mulji-Shah, B., Castell, F., Al-Salihi, O., Lei, M., Francis, A., Dann, B., Jogia, V., Hamid, H., Challacombe, B., Simo, R., Fraser, S., Gousis, C., ... Dolly, S. (2022). Radical cancer treatment is safe during COVID-19: the real-world experience of a large London-based Comprehensive Cancer Centre during the first wave. British journal of cancer, 127(7), 1289-1295. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-022-01909-0

@article{02cfbd50bbb4421db5149064209367fb,

title = "Radical cancer treatment is safe during COVID-19: the real-world experience of a large London-based Comprehensive Cancer Centre during the first wave",

abstract = "Background: During the COVID pandemic, there was a paucity of data to support clinical decision-making for anticancer treatments. We evaluated the safety of radical treatments which were delivered whilst mitigating the risks of concurrent COVID-19 infection. Methods: Using descriptive statistics, we report on the characteristics and short-term clinical outcomes of patients undergoing radical cancer treatment during the first COVID-19 wave compared to a similar pre-pandemic period. Results: Compared to 2019, the number of patients undergoing radical treatment in 2020 reduced by: 28% for surgery; 18% for SACT; and 10% for RT. Within SACT, 36% received combination therapy, 35% systemic chemotherapy, 23% targeted treatments, 5% immunotherapy and 2% biological therapy. A similar proportion of RT was delivered in 2019 and 2020 (53% vs. 52%). Oncological outcomes were also similar to pre-COVID-19. The COVID-19 infection rates were low: 12 patients were positive pre surgery (1%), 7 post surgery (<1%), 17 SACT patients (2%) and 3 RT patients (<1%). No COVID-19-related deaths were reported. Conclusions: Whilst there were fewer patients receiving radical anticancer treatments, those who did receive treatment were treated in a safe environment. Overall, cancer patients should have the confidence to attend hospitals and be reassured of the safety measures implemented.",

author = "Beth Russell and Charlotte Moss and Maria Monroy-Iglesias and Graham Roberts and Harvey Dickinson and Kate Haire and Kathryn Innes and Bansi Mulji-Shah and Fiona Castell and Omar Al-Salihi and Mary Lei and Angela Francis and Bill Dann and Vikash Jogia and Hisham Hamid and Ben Challacombe and Ricard Simo and Stephanie Fraser and Charalampos Gousis and Elinor Sawyer and Eirini Tsotra and Jose Roca and Muhammad Khan and Debra Josephs and Deborah Enting and {Van Hemelrijck}, Mieke and Victoria Harris and Saoirse Dolly",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgments. To the members of the Departamento de Estudios Bfisicos of EDELCA-Guri, and particularly to Luls BALBASf or their cooperation. To TERRENCEG LEASON,B RIANG RAFrON,J ASON BRUSH,a nd GERARDO AVMARD for their comments and support in the field, and MAIL~N RIVEROS for her advice. To ENID A. ALLEN, MUNSELL{\textregistered} Visual Products Specialist for the assistance, and CARLOS QUINTEROf or the final draft of the Figure 1. And especially to MARILYNN ORCONKf or her confidence, support and constructive comments on the manuscript. Thanks to the three anonymous reviewers for their stimulating and constructive suggestions. This work was funded by a National Science Foundation Grant SBR 98-07516 to M. NORCONK. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022, The Author(s).",

year = "2022",

month = oct,

day = "19",

doi = "10.1038/s41416-022-01909-0",

language = "English",

volume = "127",

pages = "1289--1295",

journal = "British journal of cancer",

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publisher = "Springer Nature [academic journals on nature.com]",

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Russell, B, Moss, C, Monroy-Iglesias, M, Roberts, G, Dickinson, H, Haire, K, Innes, K, Mulji-Shah, B, Castell, F, Al-Salihi, O, Lei, M, Francis, A, Dann, B, Jogia, V, Hamid, H, Challacombe, B, Simo, R, Fraser, S, Gousis, C, Sawyer, E, Tsotra, E, Roca, J, Khan, M, Josephs, D , Enting, D , Van Hemelrijck, M, Harris, V & Dolly, S 2022, 'Radical cancer treatment is safe during COVID-19: the real-world experience of a large London-based Comprehensive Cancer Centre during the first wave', British journal of cancer, vol. 127, no. 7, pp. 1289-1295. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-022-01909-0

TY - JOUR

T1 - Radical cancer treatment is safe during COVID-19

T2 - the real-world experience of a large London-based Comprehensive Cancer Centre during the first wave

AU - Russell, Beth

AU - Moss, Charlotte

AU - Monroy-Iglesias, Maria

AU - Roberts, Graham

AU - Dickinson, Harvey

AU - Haire, Kate

AU - Innes, Kathryn

AU - Mulji-Shah, Bansi

AU - Castell, Fiona

AU - Al-Salihi, Omar

AU - Lei, Mary

AU - Francis, Angela

AU - Dann, Bill

AU - Jogia, Vikash

AU - Hamid, Hisham

AU - Challacombe, Ben

AU - Simo, Ricard

AU - Fraser, Stephanie

AU - Gousis, Charalampos

AU - Sawyer, Elinor

AU - Tsotra, Eirini

AU - Roca, Jose

AU - Khan, Muhammad

AU - Josephs, Debra

AU - Enting, Deborah

AU - Van Hemelrijck, Mieke

AU - Harris, Victoria

AU - Dolly, Saoirse

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgments. To the members of the Departamento de Estudios Bfisicos of EDELCA-Guri, and particularly to Luls BALBASf or their cooperation. To TERRENCEG LEASON,B RIANG RAFrON,J ASON BRUSH,a nd GERARDO AVMARD for their comments and support in the field, and MAIL~N RIVEROS for her advice. To ENID A. ALLEN, MUNSELL® Visual Products Specialist for the assistance, and CARLOS QUINTEROf or the final draft of the Figure 1. And especially to MARILYNN ORCONKf or her confidence, support and constructive comments on the manuscript. Thanks to the three anonymous reviewers for their stimulating and constructive suggestions. This work was funded by a National Science Foundation Grant SBR 98-07516 to M. NORCONK. Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s).

PY - 2022/10/19

Y1 - 2022/10/19

N2 - Background: During the COVID pandemic, there was a paucity of data to support clinical decision-making for anticancer treatments. We evaluated the safety of radical treatments which were delivered whilst mitigating the risks of concurrent COVID-19 infection. Methods: Using descriptive statistics, we report on the characteristics and short-term clinical outcomes of patients undergoing radical cancer treatment during the first COVID-19 wave compared to a similar pre-pandemic period. Results: Compared to 2019, the number of patients undergoing radical treatment in 2020 reduced by: 28% for surgery; 18% for SACT; and 10% for RT. Within SACT, 36% received combination therapy, 35% systemic chemotherapy, 23% targeted treatments, 5% immunotherapy and 2% biological therapy. A similar proportion of RT was delivered in 2019 and 2020 (53% vs. 52%). Oncological outcomes were also similar to pre-COVID-19. The COVID-19 infection rates were low: 12 patients were positive pre surgery (1%), 7 post surgery (<1%), 17 SACT patients (2%) and 3 RT patients (<1%). No COVID-19-related deaths were reported. Conclusions: Whilst there were fewer patients receiving radical anticancer treatments, those who did receive treatment were treated in a safe environment. Overall, cancer patients should have the confidence to attend hospitals and be reassured of the safety measures implemented.

AB - Background: During the COVID pandemic, there was a paucity of data to support clinical decision-making for anticancer treatments. We evaluated the safety of radical treatments which were delivered whilst mitigating the risks of concurrent COVID-19 infection. Methods: Using descriptive statistics, we report on the characteristics and short-term clinical outcomes of patients undergoing radical cancer treatment during the first COVID-19 wave compared to a similar pre-pandemic period. Results: Compared to 2019, the number of patients undergoing radical treatment in 2020 reduced by: 28% for surgery; 18% for SACT; and 10% for RT. Within SACT, 36% received combination therapy, 35% systemic chemotherapy, 23% targeted treatments, 5% immunotherapy and 2% biological therapy. A similar proportion of RT was delivered in 2019 and 2020 (53% vs. 52%). Oncological outcomes were also similar to pre-COVID-19. The COVID-19 infection rates were low: 12 patients were positive pre surgery (1%), 7 post surgery (<1%), 17 SACT patients (2%) and 3 RT patients (<1%). No COVID-19-related deaths were reported. Conclusions: Whilst there were fewer patients receiving radical anticancer treatments, those who did receive treatment were treated in a safe environment. Overall, cancer patients should have the confidence to attend hospitals and be reassured of the safety measures implemented.

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U2 - 10.1038/s41416-022-01909-0

DO - 10.1038/s41416-022-01909-0

M3 - Article

C2 - 35840733

AN - SCOPUS:85134304380

SN - 0007-0920

VL - 127

SP - 1289

EP - 1295

JO - British journal of cancer

JF - British journal of cancer

IS - 7

ER -

Radical cancer treatment is safe during COVID-19: the real-world experience of a large London-based Comprehensive Cancer Centre during the first wave

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