AGIHO guideline on evidence-based management of COVID-19 in cancer patients: 2022 update on vaccination, pharmacological prophylaxis and therapy in light of the omicron variants

• Published in: European journal of cancer (1990) Vol. 181; pp. 102 - 118
• Main Authors: Giesen, Nicola, Busch, Elena, Schalk, Enrico, Beutel, Gernot, Rüthrich, Maria M., Hentrich, Marcus, Hertenstein, Bernd, Hirsch, Hans H., Karthaus, Meinolf, Khodamoradi, Yascha, Koehler, Philipp, Krüger, William, Koldehoff, Michael, Krause, Robert, Mellinghoff, Sibylle C., Penack, Olaf, Sandherr, Michael, Seggewiss-Bernhardt, Ruth, Spiekermann, Karsten, Sprute, Rosanne, Stemler, Jannik, Weissinger, Florian, Wörmann, Bernhard, Wolf, Hans-Heinrich, Cornely, Oliver A., Rieger, Christina T., von Lilienfeld-Toal, Marie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2023; Elsevier Science Ltd; Published by Elsevier Ltd
• Subjects: Adaptation; Cancer; Communicable Diseases - complications; Communicable Diseases - drug therapy; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - complications; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 vaccines; Disease prevention; Epidemiology; Guideline; Haematological malignancy; Health risks; Health services; Humans; Immunization; Infectious diseases; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - therapy; Original Research; Patients; Pharmacology; Prophylaxis; Public health; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Solid tumour; Treatment; Vaccination; Vaccines; Viral diseases; Viruses; COVID-19; Haematological malignancy; SARS-CoV-2; Treatment; Vaccination; Solid tumour; Prophylaxis; Guideline; Cancer
• ISSN: 0959-8049; 1879-0852; 1879-0852
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2022.11.030

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and the associated infectious disease COVID-19 pose a significant challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. Patients with cancer have been identified as a high-risk population for severe infections, rendering prophylaxis and treatment strategies for these patients particularly important. Rapidly evolving clinical research, resulting in the recent advent of various vaccines and therapeutic agents against COVID-19, offers new options to improve care and protection of cancer patients. However, ongoing epidemiological changes and rise of new virus variants require repeated revisions and adaptations of prophylaxis and treatment strategies to meet these new challenges. Therefore, this guideline provides an update on evidence-based recommendations with regard to vaccination, pharmacological prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19 in cancer patients in light of the currently dominant omicron variants. It was developed by an expert panel of the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society for Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO) based on a critical review of the most recent available data. •Changes in epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 variants require review of strategies.•Vaccination against COVID-19 is of particular importance in cancer patients.•Early treatment of COVID-19 in cancer patients reduces risk of severe disease.•Long-COVID is common in cancer patients and poses a particular challenge.•Evidence-based recommendations can help clinicians make informed decisions.