Extended dosing (12 cycles) vs conventional dosing (6 cycles) of adjuvant temozolomide in adults with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas: a randomized, single-blind, two-arm, parallel-group controlled trial.

Purpose: Maximum safe surgical resection followed by adjuvant chemoradiation and temozolomide chemotherapy is the current standard of care in the management of newly diagnosed high grade glioma. However, there are controversies about the optimal number of adjuvant temozolomide cycles. This study aimed to compare the survival benefits of 12 cycles against 6 cycles of adjuvant temozolomide adults with newly diagnosed high grade gliomas. Methods: Adult patients with newly diagnosed high grade gliomas, and a Karnofsky performance status>60%, were randomized to receive either 6 cycles or 12 cycles of adjuvant temozolomide. Patients were followed-up for assessment of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) by brain MRI every 3 months within the first year after treatment and then every six months. Results: A total of 100 patients (6 cycles, 50; 12 cycles, 50) were entered. The rate of treatment completion in 6 cycles and 12 cycles groups were 91.3% and 55.1%, respectively. With a median follow-up of 26 months, the 12-, 24-, 36-, and 48-month OS rates in 6 cycles and 12 cycles groups were 81.3% vs 78.8%, 58.3% vs 49.8%, 47.6% vs 34.1%, and 47.6% vs 31.5%, respectively (p-value=.19). Median OS of 6 cycles and 12 cycles groups were 35 months (95% confidence interval (CI), 11.0 to 58.9) and 23 months (95%CI, 16.9 to 29.0). The 12-, 24-, 36-, and 48- month PFS rates in 6 cycles and 12 cycles groups were 70.8% vs 56.9%, 39.5% and 32.7%, 27.1% vs 28.8%, and 21.1% vs 28.8%, respectively (p=.88). The Median PFS of 6 cycles and 12 cycles groups was 18 months (95% CI, 14.8 to 21.1) and 16 (95% CI, 11.0 to 20.9) months. Conclusion: Patients with newly diagnosed high grade gliomas treated with adjuvant temozolomide after maximum safe surgical resection and adjuvant chemoradiation do not benefit from extended adjuvant temozolomide beyond 6 cycles. Trial registration: Prospectively registered with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials: IRCT20160706028815N3. Date registered: 18/03/14.

Outcomes of Induction Chemotherapy Followed by Chemoradiotherapy Versus Chemoradiotherapy Alone in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Induction chemotherapy in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: There is still no definite conclusion regarding the effect of Induction Chemotherapy (IC) combined with concurrent Chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Thus this study was aimed to assess outcomes of IC followed By CRT versus CRT alone in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective study performed on 105 patients who underwent CRT and 73 patients who underwent IC+CRT, between January 2016 and December 2018. The primary endpoints were OS (from the date of treatment to the date of death or 3- years follow-Up). The toxicities of CRT were graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (version 3.0). RESULTS: one-year (73.8% vs. 53.2%) and 2-year (53.4% vs. 38.5%) OS rate of the IC+CRT group was significantly higher than that of the CRT group (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed between the IC+CRT group and the CRT group (31.5% vs. 27.4%) in terms of the 3-year OS rate (p > 0.05). In multivariate logistic regression, age<60 (OR: 1.48; CI 95% 1.02-1.97), clinical staging II (OR: 1.36; CI 95% 1.11-1.88), and the addition of IC (OR: 1.66; CI 95% 1.07-2.19) were independent prognostic factors that affected survival positively. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that a combination of IC and CRT might be a promising treatment strategy to further improve OS in ESCC patients.

Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Concurrent Use of Crocin During Chemoradiation for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Crocin is the major active carotenoid of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Its pluripotent effects have led to a growing body of literature investigating its antitumor properties as well as its diverse potentials for mood stabilization, normal tissue protection, and inflammation reduction; However, there is a gap in clinical trials testing this substance in cancer patients. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, patients with newly diagnosed esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were randomly assigned to either 30 mg/day of crocin or placebo, prescribed during the neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy. The primary endpoints were pathological response and toxicity, and secondary endpoints were depression and anxiety levels and survival analysis.

The influence of patient positioning and immobilization equipment on MR image quality and image registration in radiation therapy.

INTRODUCTION: MRI is preferred for brain tumor assessment, while CT is used for radiotherapy simulation. This study evaluated immobilization equipment's impact on CT-MRI registration accuracy and MR image quality in RT setup. METHODS: We included CT and MR images from 11 patients with high-grade glioma, all of whom were immobilized with a thermoplastic mask and headrest. T1- and T2-weighted MR images were acquired using an MR head coil in a diagnostic setup (DS) and a body matrix coil in RT setup. To assess MR image quality, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were considered in some dedicated regions of interest. We also evaluated the impact of immobilization equipment on CT-MRI rigid registration using line profile and external contour methods. RESULTS: The CNR and SNR reduction was in the RT setup of imaging. This was more evident in T1-weighted images than in T2-weighted ones. The SNR decreased by 14.91% and 12.09%, while CNR decreased by 25.12% and 20.15% in T1- and T2-weighted images, respectively. The immobilization equipment in the RT setup decreased the mean error in rigid registration by 1.02 mm. The external contour method yielded Dice similarity coefficients (DSC) of 0.84 and 0.92 for CT-DS MRI and CT-RT MRI registration, respectively. CONCLUSION: The image quality reduction in the RT setup was due to the imaged region's anatomy and its position relative to the applied coil. Furthermore, optimizing the pulse sequence is crucial for MR imaging in RT applications. Although the use of immobilization equipment may decrease the image quality in the RT setup, it does not affect organ delineation, and the image quality is still satisfactory for this purpose. Also, the use of immobilization equipment in the RT setup has increased registration accuracy.

Significance of the Pretreatment Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratios in Predicting the Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Survival Rates in Extremity Osteosarcoma: A Multicentre Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the effects of pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios on the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and survival rates in patients with extremity osteosarcoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with high-grade osteosarcoma admitted to oncologic centers affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran from 2015 to 2021 were evaluated retrospectively to assess the impact of complete blood count-related parameters on the pathologic response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Then, patients were followed up prospectively to evaluate the survival rates. All patients received at least three cycles of cisplatin/doxorubicin regimen, preoperatively. In this study, the cut-off values for high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and high platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio were considered 3.28 and 128, respectively. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-six patients were enrolled. Patients with high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and high platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio had a significantly lower overall survival rates (20.7 [95% CI 18-23.5] month vs. 34.6 [95% CI 33.2-36], p = 0.003 and 21.9 [95% CI 20.2-23.6] month versus 35.3 [95% CI 33.9-36.7], p = 0.002; respectively). Moreover, disease-free survival of patients with high platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio was worse than patients with low platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (20.4 [95% CI 18.4-22.4] month vs. 32.7 [95% CI 30.8-34.7], p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios at the baseline can predict the survival of patients with high-grade osteosarcoma.

Total Neoadjuvant vs. Standard Perioperative Cisplatin/ Doxorubicin Chemotherapy in Patients with Extremities Osteosarcoma: A Multi-Center Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Despite improvements in survival of patients with high-grade osteosarcoma after the implementation of perioperative chemotherapy, osteosarcoma remains among the most lethal cancers. Prescription of all chemotherapy courses before the surgery may provide this opportunity to eliminate micrometastases more efficiently, increase the chances of pathologic complete response and organ preserving surgery. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of total neoadjuvant chemotherapy vs. standard perioperative chemotherapy with cisplatin/doxorubicin regimen in patients with extremities osteosarcoma. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort, all patients with high-grade osteosarcoma admitted to oncologic centers affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran from 2015 to 2021 were included. Organ preserving rates, pathologic responses, and survival of patients who received all six courses of cisplatin/doxorubicin regimen preoperatively were compared to those who received the regimen perioperatively. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients were enrolled (total neoadjuvant chemotherapy: 32 patients and perioperative chemotherapy: 31 patients). In total neoadjuvant chemotherapy and perioperative chemotherapy groups, favorable pathology responses (necrosis>90%) were reported in 80.6% and 15.6% of patients, respectively (p<0.001). With a median follow-up of 24 months, mean overall survival of total neoadjuvant chemotherapy and perioperative chemotherapy groups were 21.29 months (95% CI; 19.3-23.27) and 23.46 months (95% CI; 22.7-24.1), respectively (p=0.2). The mean disease-free survival of patients in total neoadjuvant chemotherapy and perioperative chemotherapy groups were 19.54 months (95% CI; 17.0-22.0) and 21.37 months (95% CI; 19.4-23.2), respectively (p=0.2). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that prescription of all courses of doxorubicin/cisplatin chemotherapy prior to surgery can increase favorable pathologic response rates, although this improvement is not translated into overall and disease-free survival benefits.

Outcome of Second Line Treatment of Recurrent High- Grade Glioma by re-Irradiation or Bevacizumab-based Chemotherapy: A Cross Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Currently, there is no standard of treatment for the management of the recurrent high-grade glioma. Re-resection, re-irradiation, and chemotherapy are among main treatment options without any proven efficacy. AIM: To compare the outcome of second line treatment of recurrent high-grade glioma by re-irradiation or bevacizumab-based chemotherapy. METHODS: Retrospectively, patients with the recurrent high-grade glioma treated by re-irradiation (ReRT group) (34 patients) or bevacizumab-based chemotherapy (Bev group) (40 patients) as the first-file after the first recurrence were compared in term of first-line progression free survival (PFS), second-line PFS, and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Both groups were similar in term of gender (p=0.859), age (=0.071), type of first-line treatment (p=0.227), and performance status (p=0.150). With a median follow-up of 31 months (m), mortality rate was 41.2% and 70% in the ReRT and Bev groups, respectively. In the Bev and ReRT groups, median OS was 27 m (95% confidence interval (CI) 20-33.9 m) vs. 132 m (95% CI 52.9-211 m) (p<0.0001), median first-line PFS was 11 m (95% CI 7.14-28.7 m) vs. 37 m (95% CI 8.42-65.75 m) (p<0.0001), and median second-line PFS was 7 m (95% CI 3.9-10 m) vs. 9 m (95% CI 5.5-12.4 m) (p=0.564), respectively. CONCLUSION: The PFS is similar after the second line treatment of recurrent primary central nervous system malignancies either by re-irradiation or bevacizumab-based chemotherapy.

A Randomized, Controlled, Parallel-Group, Trial on the Long-term Effects of Melatonin on Fatigue Associated With Breast Cancer and Its Adjuvant Treatments.

OBJECTIVE: Cancer related fatigue is a distressing condition and correlated with decrease in quality of life of patients with malignant conditions. In continuation of our previous research, we assessed long term anti-fatigue effects of melatonin in patients with the breast cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this clinical trial, 92 breast cancer patients were randomly assigned to receive either melatonin (18 mg/day) or placebo from 1 week before the adjuvant treatments until 2 years after their completion. The levels of fatigue were assessed before and after intervention using Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) and were compared at a significance level of P ≤ .05. RESULTS: The BFI scores were similar between the 2 groups at the baseline (placebo group: 5.56 ± 1.59 and melatonin group: 5.72 ± 1.68, P = .67). After the intervention, not only the mean fatigue score was significantly lower in melatonin group (2.93 ± 1.04 vs 1.99 ± 1.02, P < .001, P ≤ .05), but also a greater reduction in fatigue score in intervention group was evident over time (P ≤ .001). CONCLUSION: Long-term usage of melatonin even after completion of adjuvant therapies in women with breast cancer decreased the levels of fatigue associated with the malignant condition and its treatments. THE TRIAL REGISTRY NAME AND URL, AND REGISTRATION NUMBER: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, https://en.irct.ir/trial/62267, IRCT20180426039421N3.

The Relationship between Lung and Heart Two-Dimensional Parameters and Three-Dimensional Dose-Volume Data in Adjuvant Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer.

Background: Two-dimensional (2D) radiographic parameters have been used to estimate the amount of heart and lung irradiated for minimizing heart and lung complications in breast cancer patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between traditionally used 2D radiographic and dose-volume parameters during adjuvant radiotherapy of breast cancer. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed 121 female patients treated with breast-conserving surgery (BCS) or modified radical mastectomy (MRM) and 3D conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) using two-field radiotherapy (2FRT) or three-field radiotherapy (3FRT) technique. All patients underwent computed tomography (CT)-planning. Two-D parameters, including central lung distance (CLD), maximum lung depth (MLD), maximum heart length (MHL), maximum heart distance (MHD), and chest wall separation (CWS), were measured using digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRR) and CT images. DVHs for lung, heart, and target were created. The Pearson correlation test was used to evaluate the correlation between 2D radiographic and dose-volume parameters. Results: There was a correlation between CLD and ipsilateral lung V5-20Gy and Dmean and between MLD and ipsilateral lung V5-20Gy. In 2FRT, only moderate correlation between CLD and ipsilateral lung V20Gy (r = 0.453, P = 0.003) and between MLD and ipsilateral lung V20Gy (r = 0.593, P <0.001) were observed. Poor correlation of MHL and heart V25Gy (r = 0.409, P = 0.007) was seen only in 3FRT. There was a correlation between MHD and heart dose-volume data, with a strong correlation between MHD and heart V5-25Gy and Dmean (r = 0.875-0.934, P<0.001) in the 2FRT group. No correlation between CWS and breast Dmax was found. Conclusion: There was a correlation between 2D parameters (i.e., CLD, MLD, and MHD) and the heart and lung dose-volume parameters during adjuvant breast radiotherapy. Although CLD was correlated to ipsilateral lung V5-20Gy and Dmean, the correlation between CLD and ipsilateral lung V20Gy was greater than other dose-volume parameters. MHD provided a close estimation of heart dose-volume parameters.

Predictive Value of Endoscopic Observations and Biopsy After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Assessing the Pathologic Complete Response of Patients With Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Introduction: No standard method has been defined to evaluate the therapeutic response of esophageal cancer to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). This study aimed to determine the predictive value of endoscopic evaluation and biopsy after CRT in predicting the complete pathological response to neoadjuvant CRT in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Materials and Method: This prospective, descriptive study was conducted on patients with stage II and III esophageal SCC who could undergo esophagectomy. Patients underwent neoadjuvant CRT. Four to six weeks after the end of treatment, re-endoscopy was performed and a biopsy was taken in the presence of a tumor lesion. In the absence of a tumor lesion, the marked site of the esophagus was removed as a blind biopsy. Gastrologist observations during endoscopy and the result of the pathological examination of an endoscopic biopsy were recorded. The patient underwent esophagectomy. The pathology obtained from endoscopic biopsy was compared with the pathology response obtained from esophagectomy. Results: Sixty-nine patients were included in the study, of which 32 underwent esophagectomy. In an endoscopic examination after CRT, 28 patients had macroscopic tumor remnants and 4 patients did not. Pathological examination of the samples obtained from endoscopy showed no tumor remnants in 10 patients (31.3%), and in 22 patients (68.7%), living tumor remnants were seen in the biopsy specimen. Pathologic evaluation of the samples obtained by surgical resection showed that in 13 patients, there were no viable carcinomas in the esophagus or lymph nodes removed, and the rate of pathologic complete response was 40.6. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, and negative predictive values of endoscopic observations were 94.7, 23, 64.2, and 75%, respectively. Preoperative biopsy sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were 68.4, 30.7, 59, and 40%, respectively. Conclusion: Considering the negative and positive predictive values of endoscopic observations and biopsy after neoadjuvant CRT, it seems that these two methods alone are not suitable for assessing the pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant treatment.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of COVID-19 in 1294 New Cancer Patients: Single-Center, Prospective Cohort Study from Iran.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in a large cohort of new cancer patients referred to an oncology clinic in the north of Iran. METHODS: During the 20-month COVID-19 pandemic, new cancer patients were followed-up. Demographic, pathologic, and clinical variables were collected for each patient. COVID-19 was confirmed based on a positive polymerase chain reaction test. Analyses were performed using the STATA version 14.0 at a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: In this study, 1294 new cancer patients were followed for 24 months (mean age: 58.7 years [range 10-95]). During the study period, COVID-19 was diagnosed in 9.4% of the patients with hospitalization rate of 3.4%, an ICU admission rate of 0.7%, and COVID-19 mortality rate of 4.9%. Hematological malignancies (ORU= 2.6, CI95% 1.28-5.34), receiving palliative treatments (ORA=3.03, CI95% 1.6-5.45) and receiving radiotherapy (ORA=2.07, 1.17-3.65) were the most common predictive factors of COVID infection in cancer patients. Also, the COVID mortality was higher in brain cancer patients (p = 0.07), metastatic disease (p = 0.01) and patients receiving palliative treatments (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: In patients suffering from cancer, COVID-19 infection can be predicted by cancer type, palliative care, and radiotherapy in cancer patients. Furthermore, brain cancers, metastasis, and palliative care were all associated with COVID-19-related mortality.

COVID-19 Vaccination in Patients With Malignancy; A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy and Safety.

Background: Data on the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with malignancy are immature. In this paper, we assessed the literature involving the use of COVID-19 vaccines in cancer patients and reported the seroconversion rates as the main outcome and severity of COVID-19 infection and side effects following COVID-19 vaccination as the secondary outcomes. Methods: A systematic review with meta-analysis was performed. Searches were conducted in electronic websites, databases, and journals, including Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from January 01, 2019, to November 30, 2021. Studies reporting data on the safety and efficacy of COVID vaccine in cancer patients using any human samples were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the NEWCASTLE-OTTAWA scale in the included studies. Results: A total of 724 articles were identified from databases, out of which 201 articles were duplicates and were discarded. Subsequently, 454 articles were excluded through initial screening of the titles and abstracts. Moreover, 41 studies did not report the precise seroconversion rate either based on the type of cancer or after injection of a second dose of COVID vaccine. Finally, 28 articles met all the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. The overall seroconversion rates after receiving a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, based on type of cancer were 88% (95% CI, 81%-92%) and 70% (95% CI, 60%-79%) in patients with solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, respectively. Conclusion: Overall, we conclude that vaccination against COVID-19 in patients with active malignancies using activated and inactivated vaccines is a safe and tolerable procedure that is also accompanied by a high efficacy.

A Cohort Study on the Immunogenicity and Safety of the Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (BBIBP-CorV) in Patients With Breast Cancer; Does Trastuzumab Interfere With the Outcome?

Aim: To determine the efficacy and safety of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (BBIBP-CorV) in patients with breast cancer. Methods: In this multi- institutional cohort study, a total of 160 breast cancer patients (mean age of 50.01 ± 11.5 years old) were assessed for the SARS-CoV-2 Anti-Spike IgG and SARS-CoV2 Anti RBD IgG by ELISA after two doses of 0.5 mL inactivated, COVID-19 vaccine (BBIBP-CorV). All patients were followed up for three months for clinical COVID-19 infection based on either PCR results or imaging findings. Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events were used to assess the side effects. Results: The presence of SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike IgG, SARS-CoV2 anti-RBD IgG, or either of these antibodies was 85.7%, 87.4%, and 93.3%. The prevalence of COVID-19 infection after vaccination was 0.7%, 0% and 0% for the first, second and third months of the follow-up period. The most common local and systemic side-effects were injection site pain and fever which were presented in 22.3% and 24.3% of patients, respectively. Discussion: The inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (BBIBP-CorV) is a tolerable and effective method to prevent COVID-19.

Oral silymarin formulation efficacy in management of AC-T protocol induced hepatotoxicity in breast cancer patients: A randomized, triple blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapeutic agents, with or without other drugs and radiation, may cause indirect or direct hepatotoxicity. Doxorubicin-induced hepatotoxicity (DIH) is a major health concern in cancer patients receiving this cytotoxic drug that is mostly resulted from the production of reactive oxygen species leading to transient or permanent liver damages. Silymarin, a flavonoid extracted from the Silybum marianum, exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of systemic administration of silymarin in management of chemotherapy induced hepatotoxicity in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer who received doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide-paclitaxel (AC-T) regimen.Material: In this randomized, triple blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 30 patients who received AC-T who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to silymarin (n = 15) or placebo (n = 15) groups to receive oral silymarin 140 mg three times a day or placebo tablets, respectively. Fatty liver severity was assessed by liver ultrasound imaging and FibroScan® and also measurement of liver function tests before and after the intervention. RESULTS: There was a non-significant trend toward more severe liver involvement in placebo group comparing to the silymarin group after intervention based on ultrasonography (p = 0.083). Besides, in silymarin group, hepatic involvement grade based on ultrasonography considerably reduced after intervention (p = 0.012). However, no difference was found between two groups based on FibroScan and liver function tests. CONCLUSION: Oral administration of silymarin could significantly reduce hepatotoxicity severity after 1 month of treatment in non-metastatic breast cancer patients treated with AC-T regimen.

A case report of prostate cancer with leptomeningeal metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is the most prevalent cancer in men. However, leptomeningeal involvement by prostate carcinoma is a rare event. CASE: Here, we report a 69-year-old patient with castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer who presented with headache and ataxia. Brain MRI revealed a huge invasive interaxial mass at right occipital lobe with diffuse thickening and enhancement of meninges, the arachnoid, and the pia mater, and he was diagnosed with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. The patient received whole brain radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that brain and leptomeningeal metastases are not very common in patients with prostate cancer, signs and symptoms of nervous system disorders should be assessed carefully, and consideration of such unusual metastases must be considered.

Immunogenicity and Safety of the Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (BBIBP-CorV) in Patients with Malignancy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 364 cancer patients who received two doses of vaccine were enrolled. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 anti-Spike protein IgG and neutralizing antibody 2 months following vaccination were measured by ELIZA. RESULTS: Injection site pain and fever were the most common local and systemic side effects. The overall seroconversion rate was 86.9% that was lower in older age, those with hematological malignancies and chemotherapy receivers. CONCLUSION: The result of study confirmed the safety and short-term efficacy of inactivated vaccine in patients with malignancies.

Multicenter Study of Antibody Seroprevalence against COVID-19 in Patients Presenting to Iranian Cancer Centers after One Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Patients with cancer are at significantly greater risk of COVID-19 and its complications than the general population. Since IgG antibodies remain detectable well after infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, seroprevalence can be used to estimate the proportion of the cancer population previously infected and potentially immune to SARS-CoV-2. The current study is a multi-center, prospective observational study to assess the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody in a cancer population referred for vaccination between April and June 2021. Of a total of 270 adult patients with cancer accrued, 16% reported a history of COVID-19 more than four weeks previously confirmed by PCR. At the same time, serologic positivity for SARSCoV2 IgG was found in 29% of patients prior to vaccination including nearly 20% of patients without a history of confirmed COVID-19. Seropositivity was significantly greater in females consistent with higher rates in patients with breast cancer and gynecologic cancers. A seroconversion rate of 79.5% was observed in cancer patients with a history of PCR confirmed COVID-19, less than observed in the general population. In multivariable analysis, gender and prior history of COVID-19 were both independently associated with seropositivity prior to vaccination. Follow-up is continuing of this cohort of patients with cancer following vaccination to assess antibody and clinical outcomes.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG following injection of the third dose vaccine: A systematic review with meta-analysis of heterologous versus homologous vaccination.

Background: The mass vaccination is a key strategy to prevent and control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Today, several different types of vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been developed worldwide. These vaccines are usually administered in a two-dose schedule, and the third dose is currently being administered in most countries. This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the immunogenicity of heterologous vs. homologous vaccination after administration of the third dose of COVID-19 vaccines. Methods: Electronic databases and websites including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google scholar were searched for relevant randomized clinical trial (RCT) studies. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of three RCTs were included in the study. These RCTs were included 2,613 healthy adults (18 years or older and without a history of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19) with 15 heterologous and five homologous prime-boost vaccination regimens. Anti-SARS-CoV-2-spike IgG levels at day 28 after administration of the third dose, were compared between the heterologous and homologous regimens. Results: The highest antibody responses had been reported for the homologous vaccination regimen of m1273/m1273/m1273 (Moderna), followed by the heterologous regimen of BNT/BNT/m1273. In addition, the immunogenicity of viral vector and inactivated vaccines was remarkably enhanced when they had been boosted by a heterologous vaccine, especially mRNA vaccines. Conclusion: This systematic review suggests that mRNA vaccines in a homologous regimen induce strong antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 compared to other vaccine platforms. In contrast, viral vector and inactivated vaccines show a satisfactory immunogenicity in a heterologous regimen, especially in combination with mRNA vaccines.