Assessment of Seroconversion after SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Patients with Lung Cancer
Ioannis P. Trontzas,
Ioannis Vathiotis,
Christina Economidou,
Ioulia Petridou,
Georgia Gomatou,
Maria Grammoustianou,
Ioannis Tsamis,
Nikolaos Syrigos,
Maximilian Anagnostakis,
Eleni Fyta,
Vissaria Sakka,
Garyphalia Poulakou,
Elias A. Kotteas,
Ekaterini Syrigou
Affiliations
Ioannis P. Trontzas
Oncology Unit, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, “SOTIRIA” General Hospital of Chest Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Ioannis Vathiotis
Oncology Unit, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, “SOTIRIA” General Hospital of Chest Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Christina Economidou
Affidea Diagnostic Center, 17675 Athens, Greece
Ioulia Petridou
Affidea Diagnostic Center, 17675 Athens, Greece
Georgia Gomatou
Oncology Unit, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, “SOTIRIA” General Hospital of Chest Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Maria Grammoustianou
Oncology Unit, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, “SOTIRIA” General Hospital of Chest Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Ioannis Tsamis
Oncology Unit, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, “SOTIRIA” General Hospital of Chest Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Nikolaos Syrigos
Oncology Unit, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, “SOTIRIA” General Hospital of Chest Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Maximilian Anagnostakis
Oncology Unit, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, “SOTIRIA” General Hospital of Chest Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Eleni Fyta
Oncology Unit, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, “SOTIRIA” General Hospital of Chest Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Vissaria Sakka
Unit of Infectious Diseases, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, “SOTIRIA” General Hospital of Chest Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Garyphalia Poulakou
Unit of Infectious Diseases, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, “SOTIRIA” General Hospital of Chest Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Elias A. Kotteas
Oncology Unit, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, “SOTIRIA” General Hospital of Chest Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Ekaterini Syrigou
Allergy Department, “SOTIRIA” General Hospital of Chest Diseases, 11527 Athens, Greece
Background: SARS-CoV-2 mortality rates are significantly higher in patients with lung cancer compared with the general population. However, little is known on their immunization status after vaccination. Methods: To evaluate the humoral response (seroconversion) of patients with lung cancer following vaccination against SARS-COV-2 (Group A), we obtained antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein both at baseline and at different time points after the first dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (two to three weeks [T1], six weeks ± one week [T2], 12 weeks ± three weeks [T3], and 24 weeks ± three weeks [T4]). Antibodies were also acquired from a control cohort of non-lung cancer patients (Group B) as well as a third cohort containing healthy controls (Group C) at all time points and at T4, respectively, to make comparisons with Group A. Analysis of antibody response at different time points, association with clinicopathologic parameters, and comparisons with control groups were performed. Results: A total of 125 patients with lung cancer were included in the analysis (96 males [74.3%], median age of 68 years [46–91]. All study participants received two vaccine doses (BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, AZD1222). Analysis of anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibody titers showed minimal response at T1 (0.4 [0.4–48.6] IU/mL). Antibody response peaked at T2 (527.0 [0.4–2500] IU/mL) and declined over T3 (323.0 [0.4–2500] IU/mL) and T4 (141.0 [0.4–2500] IU/mL). Active smokers had lower antibody titers at T2 (p = 0.04), T3 (p = 0.04), and T4 (p p Conclusions: Lung cancer patients demonstrate sufficient antibody response six weeks after the first dose of vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 when vaccinated with two-dose regimens. Rapidly declining antibody titers six weeks after the first dose underline the need for a third dose three months later, in patients with lung cancer, and especially active smokers.
