General Care: What are the recommendations for general care of patients with cancer?

ASCO encourages anyone caring for patients with cancer to follow the existing CDC guidance where possible:

Testing for COVID-19: What information is available on testing for COVID-19?

ASCO has prepared a special report, A Guide to Cancer Care Delivery During the COVID-19 Pandemic. This report provides guidance on testing for COVID-19 in both patients with cancer and in care providers.

Anti-cancer Therapy for Patients with COVID-19 Infection: Should cancer therapy be delayed in patients who are infected with COVID-19?

Patients receiving anti-cancer treatment and infected with influenza and other viruses are potentially at risk for serious complications such as pneumonia and hospitalization. Meta-analyses (Park et al, Acta Oncol; Zhang et al, J Natl Cancer Inst; Liu et al, Expert Rev Anticancer Ther; Liu et al, Cancer Med; Wang et al, Oncoimmunology) have found no evidence of interaction for surgery, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, but have mixed results with respect to chemotherapy. All the meta-analyses have found substantial heterogeneity among the included studies. Until more definitive information emerges, decisions about interrupting anti-cancer treatment in patients with active COVID-19 should be based on a clinical benefit:risk assessment that considers the risk of interrupting cancer treatment versus the still poorly defined risk of adverse COVID-19 outcomes in patients receiving active cancer treatment.

It is unclear how long a delay after the infection has resolved may be necessary before initiating/restarting anti-cancer therapy, but, if the decision was made to interrupt treatment, it should not be resumed until symptoms of COVID-19 have resolved and there is some certainty the virus is no longer present (e.g., a negative SARS-Cov-2 test), unless the cancer is rapidly progressing and the risk:benefit assessment favors proceeding with cancer treatment.  In the absence of cancer-specific information, the CDC has issued recommendations on discontinuing transmission-based precautions for patients with COVID-19; initiating/resuming anti-cancer therapy once transmission-based precautions are no longer necessary would be reasonable.

Therapy for Infection: Should antiviral therapy or other therapy to treat COVID-19 be considered?

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has published guidance that addresses all aspects of prophylaxis and treatment for COVID-19. This guidance is updated regularly as new information becomes available and should be consulted routinely when considering therapy as recommendations may change frequently.

This is an active area of research and new evidence may be available at any time. These guidelines are changing rapidly and should be reviewed prior to considering prophylaxis. CDC has information that describes the current state of research on therapy for COVID-19. Also, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) has provided a resource that shows current evidence and known ongoing clinical trials of antiviral therapies. The Reagan-Udall Foundation for the Food and Drug Administration’s page on COVID-19 provides information on clinical trials that are beginning or underway. 

Surgery: Can/should surgery be canceled or delayed?  If surgery is delayed, should patients be started earlier on neoadjuvant therapy if that is an available option?

The CDC’s guidance for health care facilities suggests that “elective surgeries” should be considered for deferral in areas with substantial community transmission. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has provided information as well and provides additional advice related to the triage of patients for surgery relevant to cancer care. However, clinicians and patients will need to make individual determinations based on the potential harms of delaying needed cancer-related surgery; in many cases, these surgeries cannot be considered “elective.” Also, if the surgery requires post-operative intensive care, the current capacity of the intensive care units available for that care should be considered as part of decision making. The Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) has released information on surgery for cancer for several different tumor types.

Radiation: Can/should the initiation of radiation be delayed? Can radiation be interrupted or postponed if already in progress?

ASTRO has addressed this concern in part on its COVID-19 resource page. ASCO encourages clinicians to follow ASTRO’s current guidance. Patients should check with their radiation oncologist to determine the most appropriate course of action for their treatment. NICE has published rapid guidance on the delivery of radiation which may be of value.

Immunosuppressive Therapy: Can/should potentially immunosuppressive therapy (except allogeneic stem cell transplantation) be stopped, delayed, or interrupted?

There is no little direct evidence to guide decisions around changing or withholding immunosuppressive therapy in patients with cancer (see Russell et al, Ecancermedicalscience, for a systematic review of the currently available limited and indirect evidence). Therefore, routinely withholding critical anti-cancer or immunosuppressive therapy is not recommended. The balance of potential harms that may result from delaying or interrupting treatment versus the potential benefits of possibly preventing or delaying COVID-19 infection is very uncertain. Clinical decisions should be individualized and consider factors such as the risk of cancer recurrence/progression if therapy is delayed, modified, or interrupted; the number of cycles of therapy already completed; and the patient’s tolerance of treatment.

However, the following practice points should be considered:

  • For patients in deep remission who are receiving maintenance therapy, stopping chemotherapy may be an option.
  • Some patients may be able to switch chemotherapy from IV to oral therapies, which would decrease the frequency of clinic visits but would require greater vigilance by the health care team to be sure that patients are taking their medicine correctly.
  • Decisions on modifying or withholding chemotherapy should include consideration of the indication for chemotherapy and the goals of care as well as where the patient is in the treatment course and their tolerance of treatment. For example, the risk/benefit assessment for proceeding with chemotherapy in patients with untreated extensive small cell lung cancer is different from that for patients on maintenance pemetrexed for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
  • If local transmission affects a particular cancer center, reasonable options may include giving a chemotherapy break for two weeks, arranging infusion at an unaffected satellite unit, or arranging treatment with another facility that is not affected.
  • Consider whether home infusion of chemotherapy drugs is medically and logistically feasible for the patient, medical team, and caregivers.
  • In some settings, delays or modifying adjuvant treatment may pose a higher risk of compromised disease control and long-term survival than in others.
  • Prophylactic growth factors as would be used in high-risk chemotherapy regimens, as well as prophylactic antibiotics, may be of potential value in maintaining the overall health of the patient and making them less vulnerable to potential COVID-19 complications.
  • In cases where the absolute benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy may be quite small, and where non-immunosuppressive options are available (e.g. hormonal therapy in ER+ early-stage breast cancer), the risk of infection with COVID-19 may be considered as an additional factor in weighing the different options available to the patient.

Stem Cell Transplantation: Can/should allogeneic stem cell transplantation be delayed?

In some cases involving patients at high risk for COVID-19, delaying a planned allogeneic stem cell transplant may be reasonable, particularly if the patient’s malignancy is controlled with conventional treatment. Until further data are available, clinicians are encouraged to follow the recommendations provided by the American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT); and the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) recommendations with respect to stem cell transplantation. NICE has released rapid guidance on stem cell transplantation as well.

The following practice points may be considered:

  • It may be prudent to test potential donors for COVID-19 even in an absence of evidence of transmission by blood transfusion.
  • As a general precaution, visitation post-transplant may need to be limited and visitors may need to be screened for symptoms and potential exposure.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Can/should treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (e.g. ipilimumab, nivolumab) be delayed or interrupted? Are any special precautions or actions needed with respect to their use?

To date, there has been little evidence that prior therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) is a risk factor for COVID-19 infection or for poor outcome of infection in patients with cancer.  The largest (1,545 patients, 20,418 controls) study reported to date by Klebenov et al, Oncologist found no significant relationship between risk of infection or risk of mortality between COVID-19 infection and ICI use, and systematic reviews of smaller studies (Lazarus et al, Cancer Immunol Immunother; Liu et al, Int Immunopharmacol) found no significant relationship as well.

Immune Compromise in Survivors: How should care of survivors of cancer with long-term immune suppression (e.g. hypogammaglobulinemia) be altered?

ASCO recognizes that patients with long-term immune suppression may be at increased risk of infection. However, at this time no recommendations can be made to alter care for these patients beyond the care they would normally receive. These patients should follow all of the general measures (e.g. social isolation) advised by the CDC to minimize their exposure to potential infection. Patients who receive intravenous immunoglobulin should continue to receive it at the prescribed dose and schedule. 

Other Therapy: Are there any other therapies that should be delayed, interrupted, or stopped?

At this time, ASCO cannot provide specific information on any other form of cancer therapy. As more data becomes available, this information will be updated. In general, however, any decisions to postpone, discontinue or modify necessary systemic cancer therapy should consider the overall goals of treatment, risks of cancer progression if treatment is postponed or interrupted, patient tolerance of treatment, and the patient’s general medical condition. Each decision requires an individualized risk/benefit assessment. 

Impact of Concomitant Medications on COVID-19 Outcomes: Are there any concerns or issues surrounding concomitant medications for patients with cancer?

In addition to the guidance presented below, the NIH has guidance on concomitant medications that may be relevant to patients with cancer. It is changing rapidly and should be reviewed frequently.

  • Cardiac medications – NIH recommends at this time that treatment with ACE inhibitors be continued. In addition, three published papers in the New England Journal of Medicine did not find any evidence of increased harms from ACE inhibitor therapy; see Jarcho et al, N Engl J Med for an editorial summary and links to the papers.
  • G-CSF – G-CSF should be used judiciously and in accordance with ASCO guidelines. Prophylactic use with highly myelosuppressive immunotherapy would still be justified to avoid neutropenia or myelosuppression which may put the patient at higher risk of infection with COVID-19. In the case of patients with active COVID-19 requiring GCSF for neutropenic fever or neutropenia, there are limited data. Judgment needs to be exercised depending on the clinical situation. NCCN has published information on the use of G-CSF and ESA (Griffiths et al, J Natl Compr Canc Netw). See section below on neutropenic fever and neutropenia for additional information.
  • Other medications – ASCO will provide information as it becomes aware of it to help clinicians and patients make decisions about other medications. See Russell et al, Ecancermedicalscience, for a systematic review of the currently available limited and indirect evidence on several medications that are used in patients with cancer.

Neutropenic Fever and Neutropenia: How can/should care for patients experiencing potential neutropenic fever and neutropenia be affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic?

ASCO recognizes there are three aspects to care of patients with potential neutropenic fever in relation to COVID-19: prophylaxis and acute care. 

  • Prophylaxis – It may be reasonable for patients at risk for neutropenic fever to be prescribed growth factor for treatment regimens at a lower level of expected risk (e.g. >10% risk) in order to minimize the risk of neutropenic fever and the potential need for emergency care, with instructions for neutrophil count monitoring and regular contact with their health care team.
  • Acute care for potential neutropenic fever – It may be reasonable in the current situation to evaluate the potential for neutropenic status in the febrile patient by telemedicine or by phone to determine whether a patient should be evaluated in the clinic or sent to the emergency department.
  • Acute care for known neutropenic fever – Standard guidelines for care of neutropenic patients, including isolation, should be followed regardless of COVID-19 status. Rapid COVID-19 testing should be used, if available, to determine the level of PPE necessary for caregivers and the appropriate location in the facility for continued care. In the absence of rapid testing, manage the patient for neutropenic fever per standard guidelines under the presumption of COVID-19 infection.

Cancer-related Anemia: How can/should care for patients at risk for or experiencing cancer-related anemia be affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic?

  • Prophylaxis – Considerations should be given to erythropoietin-stimulating agents, where serious and/or symptomatic cancer/treatment-related anemia is anticipated, and the agents are deemed to be safe. Prophylactic transfusion in asymptomatic patients based on laboratory values should be avoided if possible.
  • Acute care – Transfusion should be given where serious and/or symptomatic cancer/treatment-related anemia occurs in accordance with usual practice. The American Society of Hematology’s (ASH) previously issued Choosing Wisely statement recommends not transfusing more than the minimum number of red blood cell (RBC) units necessary to relieve symptoms of anemia or to return a patient to a safe hemoglobin range (7 to 8 g/dL in stable, non-cardiac in-patients). When considering transfusion, the specific patient circumstances (e.g. elderly, congestive heart disease) should be considered and may warrant a higher hemoglobin threshold, particularly for patients on ventilatory support with diminished oxygen-carrying capacity. As blood donation may be affected by community public health measures, the local blood supply must be considered as part of decision making.  Consideration should be given to simultaneously initiating erythropoietin-stimulating agents where they are deemed safe.

Central Venous Catheters/Ports: How can/should the central venous catheters/ports be maintained? Can flushing be delayed?

There is evidence that flushing can occur at frequencies as long as every 12 weeks with no notable increase in adverse events or harms. If patients can flush their own devices, that should be considered, although the process of training may itself be a source of exposure and access to sterile supplies at home may be limited.

Advance Care Planning: Should we discuss code status with patients on active treatment?

Proactive advance care planning is important for all cancer patients, especially now with the additional risk of COVID-19. This discussion has become more urgent than ever in this pandemic with the risk that your patient may be admitted emergently to the hospital and cared for by another team without your ability to participate, advise, and guide an end-of-life discussion. ASCO urges oncologists to engage in advance care planning discussions with their patients and encourages the use of advance directives or other expressions of end-of-life preferences, as well as clear documentation of these conversations. 

The following resources are available from the Center to Advance Palliative Care™ and Respecting Choices®: 

For cancer patients with COVID-19, who are at increased risk of needing mechanical ventilation or ICU care, a POLST conversation is appropriate. See National POLST for more information.

Disclaimer

Answers to questions about COVID-19 published herein are provided by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (“ASCO”) for voluntary, informational use by providers in the rapidly evolving novel coronavirus crisis. This information does not constitute medical or legal advice, is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions, does not endorse products or therapies, recommend or mandate any particular course of medical care, and is not a statement of the standard of care. New evidence may emerge between the time information is developed and when it is published or read. The information is not comprehensive or continually updated. This information is not intended to substitute for the independent professional judgment of the treating provider in the context of treating the individual patient. ASCO provides this information on an “as is” basis, and makes no warranty, express or implied, regarding the information. ASCO specifically disclaims any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular use or purpose. ASCO assumes no responsibility for any injury or damage to persons or property arising out of or related to any use of this information or for any errors or omissions. Use of the information is subject to the complete ASCO website Terms of Use.