Background: Lung cancer patients who contract the new coronavirus, appear to have a greater risk for severe COVID-19 illness along with early deterioration and death. However, the prognosis may depend on the cancer stage and the type of treatment administered.
Objectives: Establishing updated treatments and care management regulations for lung cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on worldwide clinical experience.
Methods: This article reviews the main recommendations described by the American and European Oncology Societies managing lung cancer patients infected by COVID-19.
Results: In the current pandemic setting, attempts should be made to avoid jeopardizing the prognosis of lung cancer patients, by maintaining current guidelines in oncology practice. In cases of patients with active infection, the recommendation is to hold treatment until recovery. For other patients, due to the aggressive nature of lung cancer, the guidelines suggest not to delay curative treatments in non-metastatic disease and provide palliative treatment in shortened protocols.
Conclusions: The present summary of guideline recommendations provides different management strategies for patients with lung cancer. These care approaches attempt to solve new challenges raised by the COVID-19 pandemic. Each specific case must be considered individually.