Impact of Radiation Therapy on Biological Parameters in Cancer Patients: Sub-analysis from the RIT Prospective Epidemiological Study.

Scarce data investigate the impact of radiotherapy (RT) on biology markers. An analysis of ancillary study of RIT (Radiation Impact on Thromboembolic events) prospective trial was carried out. All patients with non-metastatic solid tumors and treated with radiotherapy and/or brachytherapy in curative and consenting to have blood samples were included. A significant decrease in white blood count, (i.e. lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils and basophils) and platelet counts was observed after RT and maintained at 6 months. Whereas, eosinophils, D-dimers and hemoglobin levels were affected respectively 3 months and 6 months after RT initiation. Conversely, red cells count and CRP level were not affected by RT. This study is an advocacy to develop an understanding of basic immune system in relation with RT.

COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Adverse Events in Solid Cancer Patients Treated with Immunotherapy.

Little data are available regarding the effects of COVID-19 vaccine in cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy. Thereby, COVID-19 vaccine-related adverse events were monitored through a short questionnaire in solid cancer patients receiving immunotherapy. A total of 95 patients were included in this study. Two doses of vaccines were administered to cancer patients which mainly received Pembrolizumab (51.1%). Respectively 78.2% and 62.2% of patients reported no adverse events after the first and the second dose regardless of the type of vaccine used. Considering the high mortality rate due to COVID-19 among cancer patients, this study demonstrated the good tolerance of COVID-19 vaccine.