Low serological prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in cancer patients at a German University Oncology Center
- \(\bf Background:\) Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Germany, as in most other places in Europe or worldwide, are still highly prevalent. Vaccination rates currently remain low, putting cancer patients at a continued risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2, while prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among cancer patients in Germany remains essentially unknown. \(\bf Methods:\) Between August 2020 and February 2021, patients admitted to our hospital were prospectively enrolled in our COVID-19 biobank. Collected sera were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2-IgM/IgG using Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 assay. \(\bf Results:\) One hundred and ten patients with cancer were included in this study. With 71 (65%) patients, most had active cancer treatment, mainly chemotherapy (56%). The most frequent diagnosis was gastrointestinal cancer (54%) with pancreatic cancer being the most common cancer type (24%). Hematologic malignancies were present in 21 patients (17%). Among the cancer patients first diagnosed during the pandemic, the rate of palliative treatment situations tended to be higher (76% vs. 67%, \(\it p\) = 0.17). A history of SARS-CoV-2 infection was documented in 15 (14%) patients; however, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 10 (67%) patients only. Of the patients without a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, none displayed SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. \(\bf Conclusion:\) In the present single-center experience, a low serological prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among cancer patients even after SARS-CoV-2 infection was found. The results support continued strict preventive measures as well as efforts toward faster vaccination, due to a low immunity level in the population.
Author: | Oliver OverheuORCiDGND, Daniel Robert QuastORCiDGND, Wolfgang E. SchmidtGND, Türkân Sakinç-GülerGND, Anke Claudia Reinacher-SchickORCiDGND |
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URN: | urn:nbn:de:hbz:294-97243 |
DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1159/000520572 |
Parent Title (English): | Oncology research and treatment |
Publisher: | Karger |
Place of publication: | Basel |
Document Type: | Article |
Language: | English |
Date of Publication (online): | 2023/03/02 |
Date of first Publication: | 2021/11/01 |
Publishing Institution: | Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsbibliothek |
Tag: | Antibody testing; Coronavirus disease-19 seroprevalence; Epidemiology; German oncology center; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 |
Volume: | 45 |
Issue: | 3 |
First Page: | 112 |
Last Page: | 117 |
Note: | Dieser Beitrag ist aufgrund einer konsortialen Lizenz frei zugänglich. |
Institutes/Facilities: | St. Josef-Hospital Bochum, Medizinischen Klinik I, Abteilung für Hämatologie, Onkologie und Palliativmedizin |
St. Josef-Hospital Bochum, Klinik für Innere Medizin | |
Dewey Decimal Classification: | Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / Medizin, Gesundheit |
open_access (DINI-Set): | open_access |
Licence (German): | Konsortiale Lizenz |