Timothy A. Yap, MBBS, PhD, FRCP, on COVID-19 Vaccination for Patients in Phase 1 Cancer Trials

In an article published in the Lancet Oncology, investigators propose guidelines for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination in patients participating in phase 1 oncology clinical trials.

Overall, the investigators indicated that even though there are risks in vaccinating this patient population, the potential benefit to patients should be judiciously balanced with the unknown effects. Thus, it is essential for providers to make decisions regarding vaccination on an individual basis with patients and their advocates.

“This is an opportunity for, and indeed a duty of, treating oncologists, trial sponsors, and regulatory agencies to monitor, document, and communicate outcomes of the different SARS-CoV-2 vaccines during anticancer drug administration, as well as their effect on the development of [coronavirus disease 2019], toxicity of anticancer drugs, and eventual cancer outcomes,” wrote the authors who were led Timothy A. Yap, MBBS, PhD, FRCP.

In an interview with CancerNetwork®, Yap, a medical oncologist and physician-scientist based at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discussed these recommendations and what is important for both patients and providers to understand about vaccination.

Reference:

Yap TA, Siu LL, Calvo E, et al. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and phase 1 cancer clinical trials. Lancet Oncol. Published online February 8, 2021. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00017-6