Immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines in patients with cancer: Promising results and a note of caution

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are effective in preventing COVID-19. Patients with cancer are at high risk for severe COVID-19 and are appropriately prioritized for vaccination. Several studies in this issue of Cancer Cell add to our knowledge of the heterogeneity of immune responses to vaccination among patients with cancer and identify important areas for future research.

Figure 1

Predicted continuum of COVID-19 vaccine efficacy for patients with cancer based on cancer type and therapy The majority of patients with cancer, including those who have solid tumors and are receiving active therapy, are expected to have protective titers following completion of COVID-19 vaccination. Specific patients with hematologic malignancies, such as cellular therapy recipients and those who are receiving B cell-depleting agents, may not mount protective responses. For a number of cancer types and regimens, vaccine-induced immune responses are unknown (right column) and warrant further research. Abbreviations: ICI, immune checkpoint inhibitor; CLL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia; MM, multiple myeloma; JAK, janus kinase. ^∗B cell-depleting agents include anti-CD20 agents (e.g., rituximab), anti-CD38 therapy, BCMA targeted agents, and Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors.