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Current Oncology
Special Issues
Cancer Care during COVID-19 Pandemic
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Cancer Care during COVID-19 Pandemic

A special issue of Current Oncology (ISSN 1718-7729). This special issue belongs to the section "Palliative and Supportive Care".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2022) | Viewed by 13288

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Shahid Ahmed

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N5E5, Canada
2. Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, Saskatoon Cancer Center, Saskatoon, SK S7N5H5, Canada
Interests: clinical trial; population health; breast cancer; gastrointestinal cancers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented global event in modern medical history that has resulted in overwhelmed health care systems in many countries. As of the end of 2020, it has infected more than 80 million people and has taken the lives of about 2 million people. Cancer patients are particularly at higher risk of severe COVID-19 infection. In response to the challenges related to the COVID-19 outbreak, cancer care facilities and jurisdictions have rapidly adapted and modified their services to sustain safe cancer care, including the implementation of telemedicine services and virtual care. However, due to overwhelmed health care systems in several jurisdictions, there have been delays in oncologic surgery, (neo)adjuvant therapy or definite chemoradiation that could result in inferior outcomes. Experience of treating cancer patients during this pandemic will likely have much lasting effect on cancer care. Primary prevention with vaccine is one of the most effective interventions to reduce COVID-19 infection and morbidities and mortality associated with the disease. Currently, there are more than 50 COVID-19 vaccine candidates in clinical trials and a few of them have received approval for their use in a healthy population.

In response to COVID-related challenges in cancer patient care, Current Oncology plans to publish a Special Issue on COVID-19. We are pleased to invite you to make contribution in the Special Issue on COVID-19 and Cancer care. This issue aims to publish original articles and systemic reviews addressing the impact of the COVID19 pandemic on the continuum of cancer care, including cancer screening, diagnostics, therapeutics, surveillance, and supportive care, cancer outcomes, and the mental health of cancer patients, as well as research into the COVID-19 vaccine in cancer patients. I look forward to receiving your contributions.  

Prof. Dr. Shahid Ahmed
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Current Oncology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • corona virus
  • pandemic
  • cancer care
  • cancer treatment
  • COVID-19 vaccine
  • mental health
  • cancer outcomes
  • cancer screening
  • virtual care

Published Papers (6 papers)

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8 pages, 236 KiB  
Article
The Impact of the Ongoing COVID-19 Epidemic on the Increasing Risk of Adverse Pathology in Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy
by Łukasz Nyk, Hubert Kamecki, Bartłomiej Zagożdżon, Andrzej Tokarczyk, Piotr Baranek, Łukasz Mielczarek, Piotr Kryst, Sławomir Poletajew, Roman Sosnowski and Stanisław Szempliński
Curr. Oncol. 2022, 29(4), 2768-2775; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/curroncol29040225 - 15 Apr 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1692
Abstract
We aimed to assess whether the ongoing course of the COVID-19 epidemic has been associated with an increased risk of adverse pathology (AP) findings in prostate cancer (PC) patients treated with radical prostatectomy (RP). We performed a retrospective data analysis which included 408 [...] Read more.
We aimed to assess whether the ongoing course of the COVID-19 epidemic has been associated with an increased risk of adverse pathology (AP) findings in prostate cancer (PC) patients treated with radical prostatectomy (RP). We performed a retrospective data analysis which included 408 consecutive, non-metastatic, previously untreated PC patients who underwent RP in our institution between March 2020 and September 2021. Patients were divided into two equally numbered groups in regard to the median surgery date (Early Epidemic [EE] and Late Epidemic [LE]) and compared. Adverse pathology was defined as either grade group (GG) ≥ 4, pT ≥ 3a or pN+ at RP. Patients in the LE group demonstrated significantly higher rates of AP than in the EE group (61 vs. 43% overall and 50 vs. 27% in preoperative non-high-risk subgroup, both p < 0.001), mainly due to higher rates of upgrading. On multivariable analysis, consecutive epidemic week (odds ratio: 1.02, 95% confidence interval: 1.00–1.03, p = 0.009) as well as biopsy GG ≥ 2 and a larger prostate volume (mL) were associated with AP in non-high-risk patients. The study serves as a warning call for increased awareness of risk underassessment in contemporarily treated PC patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancer Care during COVID-19 Pandemic)
13 pages, 270 KiB  
Article
Healthcare Disparities and Outcomes of Cancer Patients in a Community Setting from a COVID-19 Epicenter
by Brianna M. Jones, Eric J. Lehrer, Anurag Saraf, Zahra Shafaee, Lucas Resende Salgado and Virginia W. Osborn
Curr. Oncol. 2022, 29(2), 1150-1162; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/curroncol29020098 - 16 Feb 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1814
Abstract
There have been numerous studies demonstrating how cancer patients are at an increased risk of mortality. Within New York City, our community hospital emerged as an epicenter of the first wave of the pandemic in the spring of 2020 and serves a unique [...] Read more.
There have been numerous studies demonstrating how cancer patients are at an increased risk of mortality. Within New York City, our community hospital emerged as an epicenter of the first wave of the pandemic in the spring of 2020 and serves a unique population that is predominately uninsured, of a lower income, and racially/ethnically diverse. In this single institution retrospective study, the authors seek to investigate COVID-19 diagnosis, severity and mortality in patients with an active cancer diagnosis. Demographic, clinical characteristics, treatment, SARS-CoV-2 laboratory results, and outcomes were evaluated. In our community hospital during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, patients with active cancer diagnosis appear to be at increased risk for mortality (30%) and severe events (50%) due to the SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to the general population. A higher proportion of active cancer patients with Medicaid insurance, Hispanic ethnicity, other race, and male sex had complications and death from COVID-19 infection. The pandemic has highlighted the health inequities that exist in vulnerable patient populations and underserved communities such as ours. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancer Care during COVID-19 Pandemic)
13 pages, 1862 KiB  
Article
Patterns of Pretreatment Diagnostic Assessment in Patients Treated with Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): Special Characteristics in the COVID Pandemic and Influence on Outcomes
by Felix-Nikolai Oschinka Jegor Habermann, Daniela Schmitt, Thomas Failing, Jann Fischer, David Alexander Ziegler, Laura Anna Fischer, Niklas Josua Alt, Julian Muster, Sandra Donath, Andrea Hille, Markus Anton Schirmer, Manuel Guhlich, Rami A. El Shafie, Stefan Rieken, Martin Leu and Leif Hendrik Dröge
Curr. Oncol. 2022, 29(2), 1080-1092; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/curroncol29020092 - 13 Feb 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2156
Abstract
The pandemic raised a discussion about the postponement of medical interventions for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We analyzed the characteristics of pretreatment diagnostic assessment in the pandemic and the influence of diagnostic assessment on outcomes. A total of 96 patients with stereotactic [...] Read more.
The pandemic raised a discussion about the postponement of medical interventions for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We analyzed the characteristics of pretreatment diagnostic assessment in the pandemic and the influence of diagnostic assessment on outcomes. A total of 96 patients with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for NSCLC were included. The number of patients increased from mean 0.9 (2012–2019) to 1.45 per month in the COVID era (p < 0.05). Pandemic-related factors (contact reduction, limited intensive care unit resources) might have influenced clinical decision making towards SBRT. The time from pretreatment assessment (multidisciplinary tumor board decision, bronchoscopy, planning CT) to SBRT was longer during the COVID period (p < 0.05). Reduced services, staff shortage, or appointment management to mitigate infection risks might explain this finding. Overall survival, progression-free survival, locoregional progression-free survival, and distant progression-free survival were superior in patients who received a PET/CT scan prior to SBRT (p < 0.05). This supports that SBRT guidelines advocate the acquisition of a PET/CT scan. A longer time from PET/CT scan/conventional staging to SBRT (<10 vs. ≥10 weeks) was associated with worse locoregional control (p < 0.05). The postponement of diagnostic or therapeutic measures in the pandemic should be discussed cautiously. Patient- and tumor-related features should be evaluated in detail. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancer Care during COVID-19 Pandemic)
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10 pages, 734 KiB  
Article
Impact of COVID-19 on Radiation Oncology, an Austrian Experience
by Julian Mangesius, Christoph Reinhold Arnold, Thomas Seppi, Stephanie Mangesius, Mario Brüggl, Paul Eichberger and Ute Ganswindt
Curr. Oncol. 2021, 28(6), 4776-4785; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/curroncol28060404 - 17 Nov 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1662
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has an unprecedented impact on cancer treatment worldwide. We aimed to evaluate the effects of the pandemic on the radiation treatment of patients in order to provide data for future management of such crises. We compared the number of performed [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic has an unprecedented impact on cancer treatment worldwide. We aimed to evaluate the effects of the pandemic on the radiation treatment of patients in order to provide data for future management of such crises. We compared the number of performed radiotherapy sessions of the pandemic period from February 2020 until May 2021 with those of 2018 and 2019 for reference. At our department, no referred patients had to be rejected or postponed, nor any significant changes in fractionation schedules implemented. Nevertheless, there was a substantial drop in overall radiotherapy sessions in 2020 following the first incidence wave of up to −25% (in June) in comparison to previous years. For breast cancer, a maximum decline of sessions of −45% (July) was recorded. Only a short drop of prostate cancer sessions (max −35%, May) followed by a rebound (+42%, July) was observed. Over the investigated period, a loss of 4.4% of expected patients never recovered. The severe impact of COVID-19 on cancer treatment, likely caused by retarded diagnosis and delayed interdisciplinary co-treatment, is reflected in a lower count of radiotherapy sessions. Radiation oncology is a crucial cornerstone in upholding both curative treatment options and treatment capacity during a pandemic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancer Care during COVID-19 Pandemic)
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11 pages, 1083 KiB  
Article
Satisfaction among Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Institutional Experience
by Vanessa Di Lalla, Haley Patrick, Nicolas Siriani-Ayoub, John Kildea, Tarek Hijal and Joanne Alfieri
Curr. Oncol. 2021, 28(2), 1507-1517; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/curroncol28020142 - 10 Apr 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2655
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted oncology practices to prioritize patient safety while maintaining necessary treatment delivery. We obtained patient feedback on pandemic-based practices in our radiotherapy department to improve quality of patient care and amend policies as needed. We developed a piloted questionnaire [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted oncology practices to prioritize patient safety while maintaining necessary treatment delivery. We obtained patient feedback on pandemic-based practices in our radiotherapy department to improve quality of patient care and amend policies as needed. We developed a piloted questionnaire which quantitatively and qualitatively assessed patients’ pandemic-related concerns and satisfaction with specific elements of their care. Adult patients who were treated at our Centre between 23 March and 31 May 2020, had initial consultation via telemedicine, and received at least five outpatient fractions of radiotherapy were invited to complete the survey by telephone or online. Relative frequencies of categorical and ordinal responses were then calculated. Fifty-three (48%) out of 110 eligible patients responded: 32 patients by phone and 21 patients online. Eighteen participants (34%) admitted to feeling anxious about hospital appointments, and only five (9%) reported treatment delays. Forty-eight patients (91%) reported satisfaction with their initial telemedicine appointment. The majority of patients indicated that healthcare workers took appropriate precautions, making them feel safe. Overall, all 53 patients (100%) reported being satisfied with their treatment experience during the pandemic. Patient feedback is needed to provide the highest quality of patient care as we adapt to the current reality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancer Care during COVID-19 Pandemic)
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7 pages, 1315 KiB  
Brief Report
The Impact of COVID-19 on Academic Cancer Clinical Trials in Canada and the Initial Response from Cancer Centers
by Stephen Sundquist, Diana Kato, Rebecca Y. Xu, James Schoales, Saranya Kulendran and Janet E. Dancey
Curr. Oncol. 2022, 29(4), 2435-2441; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/curroncol29040197 - 30 Mar 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1736
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in temporary holds placed on new trial startups, patient recruitment and follow up visits for trials which contributed to major disruptions in cancer center trial unit operations. To assess the impact, the Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Network (3CTN) members [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in temporary holds placed on new trial startups, patient recruitment and follow up visits for trials which contributed to major disruptions in cancer center trial unit operations. To assess the impact, the Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Network (3CTN) members participated in regional meetings and a survey to understand the impact of the pandemic to academic cancer clinical trials (ACCT) activity, cancer trial unit operations and supports needed for post-pandemic recovery. Trial performance and recruitment data collected from 1 April 2020–31 March 2021 was compared to the same period in previous years. From 1 April–30 June 2020, patient recruitment decreased by 67.5% and trial site activations decreased by 81% compared to the same period in 2019. Recovery to reopening and recruitment of ACCTs began after three months, which was faster than initially projected. However, ongoing COVID-19 impacts on trial unit staffing and operations continue to contribute to delayed trial activations, lower patient recruitment and may further strain centers’ capacity for participation in academic-sponsored trials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancer Care during COVID-19 Pandemic)
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