Immunogenicity and Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines in Patients with Lung Cancer: Results of a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION

COVID-19 has emerged as a significant worldwide health crisis in recent years, characterized by elevated morbidity and mortality rates. COVID-19 vaccinations can diminish transmission and safeguard people. The evaluation of immunogenicity and safety in high-risk populations, such as lung cancer patients, continues to provide a problem. This evaluation seeks to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccinations in patients with lung cancer.

METHODS

A search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science from January 2021 to November 2022 utilizing the keywords: COVID-19 OR SARS-CoV-2 AND COVID-19 vaccination AND lung cancer OR lung carcinoma. The subsequent requirements must be satisfied for inclusion: (1) research involving at least 30 lung cancer patients undergoing active antitumor therapy alongside healthy controls; (2) COVID-19 vaccination; (3) observational studies (either prospective or retrospective) and clinical trials featuring healthy controls; (4) the primary outcome measured was anti-SARS-CoV-2-spike IgG titers following the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in lung cancer patients. Secondary results included local and systemic adverse responses following the first and second doses. Antibody titers (mean ± standard deviation) were assessed for each study individually. The occurrence of adverse events following the first and second dosages was recorded.

RESULTS

Eight studies were included, comprising 1,220 lung cancer patients and 599 healthy persons. IgG titers against the SARS-CoV-2-spike protein were markedly reduced in lung cancer patients compared to healthy controls, with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.002). The safety profiles of lung cancer patients and healthy individuals were comparable: local reaction after the first vaccine: relative risk (RR) = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.68-1.19; systemic reaction after the first vaccine: RR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.51-1.66; local reaction after the second vaccine: RR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.54-1.19; systemic reaction after the second vaccine: RR = 1.20, 95% CI: 0.65-2.21.

CONCLUSION

The antibody titer in lung cancer patients is markedly lower than that in the healthy group. Consequently, fatalities from COVID-19 may transpire in these people notwithstanding vaccination. Consequently, comprehensive protective measures must continue to be implemented to safeguard lung cancer patients who have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccination against COVID-19.