COVID-19 | Specialty

The OncLive COVID-19 condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and expert insights on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted multiple areas of oncology care and practice. This page features news articles, interviews in written and video format, and podcasts encompassing data of patients with COVID-19 and cancer, oncology drugs being tested against the virus, vaccine information for patients with cancer, and more.

130 Centers, Organizations Call for Priority Access to a COVID-19 Vaccine for Patients With Cancer

February 19th 2021

February 18, 2021 - One hundred and thirty organizations, cancer centers, and other institutions sent a letter to President Joe Biden and his administration, as well as other leading public health officials at state health departments to underscore the need to provide patients with cancer and survivors of cancer with priority access to a coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine.

Dr. Kulasinghe on Cancer Care During the COVID-19 Crisis in Australia

February 19th 2021

Arutha Kulasinghe, PhD, discusses cancer care during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Australia.

Dr. Lilenbaum on the Challenges of Integrating Telehealth Services in Lung Cancer

February 6th 2021

Rogerio C. Lilenbaum, MD, discusses the challenges of integrating telehealth services in lung cancer.

Heterogeneity in Risk of COVID-19–Related Death Identified Across Different Cancer Subtypes

February 6th 2021

February 5, 2021 - Significant heterogeneity was identified in risk of coronavirus disease 2019–related death in patients based on factors such as cancer subtype, age, sex, and in-patient proportion.

Perales Examines the Impact of COVID-19 on Recipients of Cellular Therapies for Cancer

February 6th 2021

February 5, 2021 - Following stem cell transplant or treatment with CAR T-cell therapies, patients with hematologic malignancies and coronavirus disease 2019 tend to have favorable outcomes, especially if they are diagnosed in complete remission and further out from their cell infusion.

MSKCC Strategizes to Provide Safe Outpatient Cancer Care During the COVID-19 Crisis

February 5th 2021

February 4, 2021 - Despite the threat the coronavirus disease 2019 presents, it’s necessary that patients with cancer continue to receive care at outpatient facilities—a feat that has been made possible at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center through multidisciplinary efforts, innovative strategy, and technologic advances.

Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks: Repurposing Cancer Drugs to Combat COVID-19

February 5th 2021

February 4, 2021 - In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, investigators have turned to tried-and-true cancer drugs to see whether they can be used to combat the virus.

Drive-By Flu-FIT Program May Address CRC Screening Decline in Diverse Communities Amidst COVID-19 Crisis

February 3rd 2021

February 3, 2021 - The Drive-By Flu-Fecal Immunochemical Test program not only provides safe and socially distanced colorectal cancer screening opportunities during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, but also may help to address screening declines in diverse communities.

Unlocking the Potential of mRNA Vaccines in the Fight Against Cancer and COVID-19

February 3rd 2021

February 3, 2021 - Recent progress made with messenger RNA vaccines has led to amplified protein translation, stronger modulation of immunogenicity, and improved delivery, which has all contributed to an evolution in the application of these products in the field of cancer.

ASCO Names Molecular Profiling in GI Cancers as Advance of the Year

February 2nd 2021

February 2, 2021 - ASCO has chosen molecular profiling driving progress in gastointestinal cancers as its Advance of the Year.

COVID-19 Pandemic Has Led to Decrease in Lung Cancer Diagnoses and Increase in Mortality Rate, Study Shows

January 29th 2021

January 29, 2021 - Thirty percent fewer new lung cancer cases have been diagnosed during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic versus pre-pandemic, with more symptomatic and severe cases of non–small cell lung cancer diagnosed during this period.

Dr. Matsen on the Effects of Decreased Breast Cancer Screening in the COVID-19 Era

January 28th 2021

Cindy B. Matsen, MD, discusses the potential effects of the decrease in screening for patients with breast cancer during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

NCCN and ACS Call for Resumption of Cancer Screening, Treatment Amidst COVID-19 Crisis

January 28th 2021

January 28, 2021 - The National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the American Cancer Society are collaborating with cancer organizations nationwide to promote the resumption of cancer screening and treatment during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

NCCN Releases COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance for Patients With Cancer

January 22nd 2021

All patients with active cancer, or with active, recent, or planned cancer treatment, should be considered highest priority to receive one of the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines that have been granted emergency use authorization from the FDA.

Expert Gives Nod to COVID-19 Vaccines for Patients With Cancer

January 22nd 2021

David Cohn, MD, discusses how to approach COVID-19 vaccination in patients with cancer.

Pandemic Inspires New Outreach Program

January 19th 2021

As oncologists, we are here to help patients and their families as much as we can. That is why we went into cancer medicine. It is what we do every day. Until the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic knocked on our doors.

Pharma Innovation Is Saving the World

January 18th 2021

Before New Year’s Day, millions of Americans had received the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine, including frontline physicians and health care providers and nursing home patients, our most vulnerable citizens.

COVID-19 Pandemic Restructures Care in CLL

January 12th 2021

As the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic continues to pose challenges, health care providers struggle with decisions on how to balance the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 transmission with the need to treat patients’ underlying conditions.

Dr. Campbell on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in RCC

January 8th 2021

Matthew T. Campbell, MD, MS, discusses the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in renal cell carcinoma.

Struggling With COVID-19 on the Cancer Floor

December 29th 2020

For the population of hospitalized patients with cancer, many of whom who have not contracted the disease, COVID-19 has real, immediate consequences; the pandemic has radically altered their end-of-life care.