Immunological Response to COVID-19 Vaccination in Ovarian Cancer Patients Receiving PARP Inhibitors

Vaccines (Basel). 2021 Oct 8;9(10):1148. doi: 10.3390/vaccines9101148.

Abstract

Objective: Vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 provides significant protection against the infection in the general population. However, limited data exist for cancer patients under systemic therapy.

Methods: In this cohort, we prospectively enrolled cancer patients treated with PARPi as well as healthy volunteers in order to study the kinetics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (NAbs) after COVID-19 vaccination. Baseline demographics, co-morbidities, and NAb levels were compared between the two groups.

Results: The results of the cohort of 36 patients receiving PARP inhibitors are presented here. Despite no new safety issues being noticed, their levels of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies were significantly lower in comparison to matched healthy volunteers up to day 30 after the second dose.

Conclusions: These results suggest that maintaining precautions against COVID-19 is essential for cancer patients and should be taken into consideration for the patients under treatment, while further exploration is needed to reduce the uncertainty of SARS-CoV-2 immunity among cancer patients under treatment.

Keywords: PARP inhibitors; SARS-CoV-2; ovarian cancer; vaccination.