COVID-19 AND CANCER: SCIENTIFIC AND CLINICAL ASPECTS

Naleskina L.A., Lukianova N.Y., Kunska L.M., Chekhun V.F.

• R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology of NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine

There were analyzed scientific publications concerning one of the most important medical and social problems of the 21st century, which afflicted the population of many countries — the COVID-19 outbreak caused by highly mutating and producing new rapidly spreading virulent strains SARS-CoV-2 virus. The issue of the pathogenetic relation between COVID-19 and cancer is considered, and the possible molecular mechanisms determining the predisposition of patients with malignant neoplasms to SARS-CoV-2 infection are discussed. It has been noted that the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 could be different in patients with various forms of malignant neoplasms. In particular, the severe course of the disease in patients with hematological malignancies was emphasized. In addition, the questions related to the effectiveness, safety, and immunogenicity of the most common vaccines against coronavirus is considered based on the multicenter comparative studies in large populations of patients with or without cancer. It was shown that the vaccines can enhance both humoral and cellular antivirus immunity in cancer patients, and that basic precautions and vaccination are the only preventive strategies in the COVID-19 pandemic.