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.

Creating the In-Person Experience on a Virtual Platform

December 25th 2020

The coronavirus disease 2019 crisis has changed all aspects of medical education but perhaps altered clinical education most dramatically.

FDA Grants Emergency Use Authorization to Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

December 19th 2020

December 18, 2020 - The FDA has granted Emergency Use Authorization to the second vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 infection.

FDA Advisory Committee Votes in Favor of COVID-19 Vaccine mRNA-1273

December 17th 2020

December 17, 2020 - The FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee has voted 20-0 with 1 abstention to support the benefit-risk profile associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine mRNA-1273.

FDA Authorizes First Vaccine to Prevent COVID-19 Infection

December 12th 2020

December 11, 2020 - The FDA has authorized the first vaccine for the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019.

FDA Advisory Committee Votes in Favor of COVID-19 Vaccine BNT162b2

December 10th 2020

December 10, 2020 - The FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee has voted 17-4 with 1 abstention to support the benefit-risk profile associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine BNT162b2.

Dr. Vasileiou on the Potential Role of ALVR109 for the Treatment of COVID-19

December 6th 2020

Spyridoula Vasileiou, PhD, discusses the potential role of ALVR109, a SARS-CoV-2 virus–specific T-cell therapy, for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019.

Patients With Hematologic Cancers at Increased Risk for Adverse COVID-19 Outcomes

December 6th 2020

December 6, 2020 — Patients with hematologic malignancies are at increased risk for significant morbidity and mortality from coronavirus disease 2019, and the risk of death appeared to be greatest in those who were older, had more severe infection, a poorer prognosis, or who decided to forego intensive treatment

Off-the-Shelf, SARS-CoV-2-Specific T Cells Display Antiviral Activity

December 5th 2020

The effector profile of the SARS-CoV-2 virus–specific T-cell therapy, ALVR109, was polyclonal, polyfunctional, and displayed cytolytic activity against viral targets without allogeneic or autologous reactivity, suggesting ALVR109 could be a safe and effective treatment for the coronavirus disease 2019.

COVID-19 Sharpens Focus on Drug Holidays

December 3rd 2020

Having patients go on drug holidays or intermittent therapy is a common strategy during treatment of prostate cancer and several other malignancies, whether to provide temporary relief from adverse effects influencing quality of life, to prevent long-term health impacts, or to lessen drug resistance that would render the therapy ineffective.

Pandemic Heightens Stress of Cancer Diagnosis

December 1st 2020

The repercussions of delays in diagnosing cancer, either through screening or the presence of early symptoms, and of required modifications in standard-of-care management paradigms in the COVID-19 era are only now beginning to be fully appreciated.

Infrastructure of Oncology Care Model Helps Practice Through COVID-19

November 27th 2020

Nothing about taking care of patients with cancer during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has been easy, but those practices that had already embraced transformation under the Oncology Care Model are finding that its monthly payments and other features offer stability during an unprecedented health emergency.

Acalabrutinib Misses the Mark in Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19–Related Respiratory Symptoms

November 18th 2020

November 18, 2020 - The addition of the oral BTK inhibitor acalabrutinib to best supportive care in patients with respiratory symptoms from coronavirus disease 2019 infection failed to increase the proportion of patients who remained alive and free of respiratory failure, missing the primary efficacy end points of the 2 phase 2 CALAVI trials.

Cancer Experts Spotlight the Significance of the Institutional Perspectives in Cancer Webinars

November 17th 2020

The Institutional Perspectives in Cancer webinars assemble academic and community-based physicians and healthcare professionals across key disciplines, ranging from medical to surgical oncology.

Raez Raises Concerns Over Delayed Cancer Care in the COVID-19 Era

November 16th 2020

In our exclusive interview, Dr. Raez discusses the reasons for the declines in routine screening and referrals due to the coronavirus disease 2019, anticipated consequences, and some of the ways in which the health care community can combat these newfound challenges.

French Study Sheds Light on COVID-19 Stress Among Patients With Cancer

November 13th 2020

Patients on active therapy during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, as well as oncology care providers, have increased levels of perceived and posttraumatic stress, according to preliminary data from the COVIPACT study.

Cancer Research May Pave the Way for Treating Severe COVID-19

November 11th 2020

Miriam Merad, MD, PhD, discusses how her explorations of the role of inflammation in patients with cancer translated into critical insights for patients with COVID-19.

Surgical Delays Caused By COVID-19 Do Not Increase Risk of pT3a Upstaging, Compromise OS in cT1b-cT2b RCC

November 9th 2020

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has led to delays in elective and potentially curative surgeries for patients with cT1b-cT2b renal cell carcinoma but research has indicated that surgical delays of up to and beyond 3 months did not result in an increased risk of pT3a upstaging or comprise overall survival.

Halmos Highlights Lessons Learned From the COVID-19 Crisis in Lung Cancer

November 9th 2020

The oncology community has risen up as a unified front in the battle against coronavirus disease 2019, launching pivotal research efforts to better understand the enemy and collecting data to develop effective therapeutics to fill the treatment arsenal.

NCI Director Talks Response to COVID-19 Crisis, Focuses on Overcoming Disruptions in Cancer Care

November 6th 2020

Norman E. “Ned” Sharpless, MD, discusses the efforts that The National Cancer Institute has made to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

COVID-19 Drives Decreases in Cancer Screening, Diagnoses, and Treatments

October 26th 2020

A significant decline in cancer screenings, biopsies, surgeries, office visits, and therapies was observed with variation by cancer type and site of service among senior patients with cancer from March to July 2020, during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.