Safety and immunogenicity of the COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 in patients undergoing chemotherapy for solid cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Although COVID-19 severity in cancer patients is high, the safety and immunogenicity of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in patients undergoing chemotherapy for solid cancers in Japan have not been reported.

METHODS:

We investigated the safety and immunogenicity of BNT162b2 in 41 patients undergoing chemotherapy for solid cancers and in healthy volunteers who received 2 doses of BNT162b2. We evaluated serum IgG antibody titers for S1 protein by ELISA at pre-vaccination, prior to the second dose and 14 days after the second vaccination in 24 cancer patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy (CC group), 17 cancer patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy (ICI group) and 12 age-matched healthy volunteers (HV group). Additionally, inflammatory cytokine levels were compared between the HV and ICI groups at pre and the next day of each vaccination.

RESULTS:

Anti-S1 antibody levels were significantly lower in the ICI and CC groups than in the HV group after the second dose (median optimal density: 0.241 [0.063-1.205] and 0.161 [0.07-0.857] vs 0.644 [0.259-1.498], p = 0.0024 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Adverse effect profile did not differ among the three groups, and no serious adverse event occurred. There were no differences in vaccine-induced inflammatory cytokines between the HV and ICI groups.

CONCLUSION:

Although there were no significant differences in adverse events in three groups, antibody titers were significantly lower in the ICI and CC groups than in the HV group. Further protection strategies should be considered in cancer patients undergoing CC or ICI.

• Authors: Yohei Funakoshi, Kimikazu Yakushijin, Goh Ohji, Wataru Hojo, Hironori Sakai, Ryo Takai, Taku Nose, Shinya Ohata, Yoshiaki Nagatani, Taiji Koyama, Akihito Kitao, Meiko Nishimura, Yoshinori Imamura, Naomi Kiyota, Kenichi Harada, Yugo Tanaka, Yasuko Mori, Hironobu Minami
• Journal: Journal of infection and chemotherapy : official journal of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy (J Infect Chemother) Vol. 28 Issue 4 Pg. 516-520 (Apr 2022) ISSN: 1437-7780 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 35090826 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2022 Japanese Society of Chemotherapy and The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Viral
• COVID-19 Vaccines
• BNT162 Vaccine

Topics

• Antibodies, Viral
• BNT162 Vaccine
• COVID-19
• COVID-19 Vaccines (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Immunogenicity, Vaccine
• Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Prospective Studies
• SARS-CoV-2