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The GCO-002 CACOVID-19 Cohort: a French Nationwide Multicenter Study of COVID-19 Infected Cancer Patients

Completed
Conditions
Cancer
Immunotherapy
Solid Tumor
Social Inequality
Chemotherapy
Surgery
Radiotherapy
COVID
French National Cohort
Registration Number
NCT04397575
Lead Sponsor
Federation Francophone de Cancerologie Digestive
Brief Summary

Since December 2019, China and then the rest of the world have been affected by the rapid development of a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2). The disease caused by this coronavirus (COVID-19), which is transmitted by air via droplets, is potentially responsible for a severe respiratory syndrome but also for a multivisceral deficiency that can lead to death.

Cancer patients are generally more susceptible to infections than people without cancer due to immunosuppression caused by their tumor disease and/or conventional anti-cancer treatments used such as cytotoxic chemotherapy, several targeted therapies, radiotherapy or recent surgery. These patients may therefore be at particular risk for COVID-19.

This is suggested by the very first analysis on the subject, which reports data from the Chinese prospective database of 2007 patients with proven COVID-19 infection in 575 hospitals in 31 Chinese provinces. The authors of this publication conclude with 3 measures to be proposed to patients undergoing cancer follow-up: 1/ consider postponing adjuvant chemotherapy or surgery in the case of localized and stable cancer, 2/ reinforce protective measures for these patients, and 3/ monitor very closely and treat these patients more intensively when they have a COVID-19.

However, the increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe forms of COVID-19 in cancer patients suggested by this first study remains to be demonstrated given its limitations, already highlighted by other authors. Indeed, the number of patients is small and the population of cancer patients is very heterogeneous, with in particular 12 patients out of 16 who had recovered from initial cancer treatments (therefore without immunosuppression), half of whom had a disease course of more than 4 years.

Nevertheless, a second Chinese study has just recently been published, reporting COVID-19 data among 1524 cancer patients admitted between December 30, 2019 and February 17, 2020 in the Department of Radiotherapy and Medical Oncology of the University Hospital of Wuhan, the source city of the COVID-19 epidemic. Although the rate of CoV-2 SARS infection was lower than that reported in the first study, it was still 0.79% (n=12), which is much higher than the rate of COVID-19 diagnosed in Wuhan City during the same period (0.37%, 41 152/11 081 000). Again, lung cancer was the main tumour location observed in 7 patients (58%), of which 5 (42%) were undergoing chemotherapy +/- immunotherapy. Three deaths (25%) were reported. Patients over 60 years of age with lung cancer had a higher incidence of COVID-19 (4.3% vs. 1.8%). Thus, it appears that the risk of COVID-19 is actually increased in cancer patients, although again, less than half of the patients with lung cancer had a higher incidence of COVID-19.

Moreover, two more recent studies performed in patients treated in Hubei Province of China and in New-York city found that patients with cancer had significantly increased risk of death compared to non-cancer COVID-19 patients, especially patients with metastatic cancer and those who had recent surgery.

Therefore, many questions remain to date on the level of risk and the severity of COVID-19 in patients with active cancer, in particular those under anti-cancer treatment and in patients recently operated for localized cancer.

Detailed Description

Since December 2019, China and then the rest of the world have been affected by the rapid development of a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2). The disease caused by this coronavirus (COVID-19), which is transmitted by air via droplets, is potentially responsible for a severe respiratory syndrome but also for a multivisceral deficiency that can lead to death.

In less than 3 months, the COVID-19 epidemic has already affected more than 440,000 persons and has been responsible for more than 20,000 deaths worldwide.

Cancer patients are generally more susceptible to infections than people without cancer due to immunosuppression caused by their tumor disease and/or conventional anti-cancer treatments used such as cytotoxic chemotherapy, several targeted therapies, radiotherapy or recent surgery. These patients may therefore be at particular risk for COVID-19.

This is suggested by the very first analysis on the subject, which reports data from the Chinese prospective database of 2007 patients with proven COVID-19 infection in 575 hospitals in 31 Chinese provinces. After exclusion of 417 cases without sufficient available clinical data, 1590 cases of patients infected with COVID-19 were analysed, of which 18 (1%) had a personal history of cancer. This prevalence was higher than that of COVID-19 in the general Chinese population since the beginning of the epidemic (0.29%). Lung cancer (n=5, 28%) and colorectal cancer (n=5, 28%) were the 2 most common cancers. Four (25%) of the 16 patients for whom treatment was known had received chemotherapy or had surgery in the month prior to COVID-19 infection, while the majority (n=12, 75%) were patients in remission or cured of their cancer after primary surgery. Compared to patients without cancer, patients with cancer were older (63 years vs. 48 years) and had a more frequent history of smoking (22% vs. 7%). Most importantly, patients with cancer had more severe forms of COVID-19 than patients without cancer (7/18 or 39% vs. 124/1572 or 8%, p=0.0003). Patients who had chemotherapy or surgery in the month preceding the diagnosis of COVID-19 had a significantly increased risk of the severe form (3/4 or 75% vs. 6/14 or 43%), which was confirmed in multivariate analysis after adjustment on other risk factors such as age, smoking and other comorbidities, with a relative risk of 5.34 (95% CI: 1.80-16.18;p=0.0026). Finally, patients with cancer deteriorated more rapidly than patients without cancer (13 days vs. 43 days, p\<0.0001). The authors of this publication conclude with 3 measures to be proposed to patients undergoing cancer follow-up: 1/ consider postponing adjuvant chemotherapy or surgery in the case of localized and stable cancer, 2/ reinforce protective measures for these patients, and 3/ monitor very closely and treat these patients more intensively when they have a COVID-19.

However, the increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe forms of COVID-19 in cancer patients suggested by this first study remains to be demonstrated given its limitations, already highlighted by other authors. Indeed, the number of patients is small and the population of cancer patients is very heterogeneous, with in particular 12 patients out of 16 who had recovered from initial cancer treatments (therefore without immunosuppression), half of whom had a disease course of more than 4 years.

Nevertheless, a second Chinese study has just recently been published, reporting COVID-19 data among 1524 cancer patients admitted between December 30, 2019 and February 17, 2020 in the Department of Radiotherapy and Medical Oncology of the University Hospital of Wuhan, the source city of the COVID-19 epidemic. Although the rate of CoV-2 SARS infection was lower than that reported in the first study, it was still 0.79% (n=12), which is much higher than the rate of COVID-19 diagnosed in Wuhan City during the same period (0.37%, 41 152/11 081 000). Again, lung cancer was the main tumor location observed in 7 patients (58%), of which 5 (42%) were undergoing chemotherapy +/- immunotherapy. Three deaths (25%) were reported. Patients over 60 years of age with lung cancer had a higher incidence of COVID-19 (4.3% vs. 1.8%). Thus, it appears that the risk of COVID-19 is actually increased in cancer patients, although again, less than half of the patients with lung cancer had a higher incidence of COVID-19.

Moreover, two more recent studies performed in patients treated in Hubei Province of China and in New-York city found that patients with cancer had significantly increased risk of death compared to non-cancer COVID-19 patients, especially patients with metastatic cancer and those who had recent surgery.

Therefore, many questions remain to date on the level of risk and the severity of COVID-19 in patients with active cancer, in particular those under anti-cancer treatment and in patients recently operated for localized cancer.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
1523
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age ≥ 18 years old
  • Patient undergoing treatment or under surveillance or recently diagnosed and who has not yet started treatment for cancer at one of the following locations : digestive (esophagus, stomach, colorectal, small intestine, pancreas, biliary tract, Vater's ampulla, liver, GIST, neuroendocrine tumour, anal canal, primary peritoneum, appendix), thoracic (non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), small cell lung cancer (SCLC), mesothelioma), head and neck (oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx, nasopharynx, salivary glands, sinus), gynecological (breast, ovary, cervix, endometrium, vulva), central nervous system, dermatological, urological (prostate, kidney, bladder and upper urinary tract, external genitals)
  • Patient with PCR and/or serology and/or CT-scan confirmed SARS-COV-2 infection or with suggestive COVID-19 syndrome (fever, fatigue, body aches, headache, cough, dyspnea, sudden onset of anosmia or ageusia in the absence of rhinitis or nasal obstruction) without biological or CT-scan confirmation during the period of March 1, 2020 to September 30, 2020.
  • Inpatient or outpatient
  • Patient informed of the research and, by way of derogation, patient treated in an emergency situation
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patients whose cancer in the cohort was treated curatively more than 5 years ago, with no evidence of recurrence at the time of the SARS-COV-2 infection.
  • Patient expressing opposition to participating in the cohort
  • Patient subject to a protective measure (patient under guardianship or curatorship)

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of cases of SARS-COV-2 infection and mortality rate directly related to the infection in patients being followed for digestive, thoracic, head and neck, gynecologic, cerebral, urologic or cutaneous cancer3 months

Describe the number of cases of SARS-COV-2 infection, including those with severe form, and the mortality rate directly related to the infection in patients being followed for any of the following cancers: digestive, thoracic, head and neck, gynecologic, cerebral, urologic, or cutaneous

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of cases of SARS-COV-2 infection3 months

Describe the number of cases of SARS-COV-2 infection according to:

* Tumor location

* metastatic or localized status

* status treated or under surveillance

* the type of cancer treatment n the 3 months prior to the occurrence of COVID-19 or more

Social characteristics of individuals on treatment3 months

Social characteristics of individuals (dwelling place with a INSE code, ) impact on the treatment management of cancer. Information of dwelling place (INSE code), socio-professional leve (INSEE classification) will be collected

Percentage of severe and fatal forms.of cases of SARS-COV-2 infection3 months

Describe the percentage of severe and fatal forms respectively according to :

* Tumor location

* metastatic or localized status

* status treated or under surveillance

* type of cancer treatment received in the 3 months prior to the occurrence of COVID-19 or more

Link between socio-territorial determinants and the characteristics/severity of SARS-COV-2 infection.3 months

Analyze the link between socio-territorial determinants and the characteristics/severity of SARS-COV-2 infection, as well as the impact of the infection on cancer management.

Trial Locations

Locations (131)

PRIVE - Forcilles

🇫🇷

Férolles-Attilly, France

CHU - Grenoble Alpes

🇫🇷

Grenoble, France

Groupe Hospitalier Diaconesses Croix Saint Simon

🇫🇷

Paris, France

CHU - Haut Lévêque

🇫🇷

Pessac, France

CHU - La Miletrie

🇫🇷

Poitiers, France

PRIVE - Clinique La Croix du Sud

🇫🇷

Quint-Fonsegrives, France

PRIVE - Polyclinique Courlancy

🇫🇷

Reims, France

PRIVEE - Jean Godinot

🇫🇷

Reims, France

CHU - Hautepierre

🇫🇷

Strasbourg, France

ICAN - Institut de Cancérologie de Strasbourg Europe

🇫🇷

Strasbourg, France

PRIVE - Strasbourg Oncologie Libérale

🇫🇷

Strasbourg, France

CHU - Beaujon

🇫🇷

Clichy, France

CH - Compiegne

🇫🇷

Compiègne, France

PRIVE - Saint Côme

🇫🇷

Compiègne, France

CHU - Hôpital François Mitterand

🇫🇷

Dijon, France

CH - René Dubos

🇫🇷

Pontoise, France

Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou

🇫🇷

Paris, France

CH - Henri Duffaut

🇫🇷

Avignon, France

Ch D'Abbeville

🇫🇷

Abbeville, France

CHU - Hôpital Sud

🇫🇷

Amiens, France

CHU - Hôtel Dieu

🇫🇷

Angers, France

Hôpital Privé

🇫🇷

Antony, France

CH - Metz Thionville Mercy

🇫🇷

Ars-Laquenexy, France

CH Victor Dupouy

🇫🇷

Argenteuil, France

Hôpital Général d'Auch

🇫🇷

Auch, France

Ch-Ght Unyon Auxerre

🇫🇷

Auxerre, France

PRIVE - Sainte Catherine

🇫🇷

Avignon, France

CH - Côte Basque

🇫🇷

Bayonne, France

CHU - Jean Minjoz

🇫🇷

Besançon, France

CH

🇫🇷

Valenciennes, France

PRIVE - Centre Pierre Curie

🇫🇷

Beuvry, France

PRIVE - Franche Comté

🇫🇷

Besançon, France

PRIVE - Tivoli

🇫🇷

Bordeaux, France

CH - Duchenne

🇫🇷

Boulogne-sur-Mer, France

CHU - Ambroise Paré

🇫🇷

Boulogne, France

CH - Fleyriat

🇫🇷

Bourg-en-Bresse, France

CH - Germon et Gauthier - Service de Gastroentérologie

🇫🇷

Béthune, France

CHU - Morvan

🇫🇷

Brest, France

CHU - Pierre Wertheimer

🇫🇷

Bron, France

PRIVE - Médipole de Savoie

🇫🇷

Challes-les-Eaux, France

CHU - Estaing

🇫🇷

Clermont-Ferrand, France

CHU - Côte de Nacre

🇫🇷

Caen, France

PRIVE - François Baclesse

🇫🇷

Caen, France

PRIVE - Infirmerie protestante

🇫🇷

Caluire-et-Cuire, France

PRIVE - CAC Jean PERRIN

🇫🇷

Clermont-Ferrand, France

PRIVE - Pôle Santé Léonard de Vinci

🇫🇷

Chambray-lès-Tours, France

CH - HIA Percy

🇫🇷

Clamart, France

CHP du Cotentin

🇫🇷

Cherbourg, France

CH - Hôpitaux civils de Colmar

🇫🇷

Colmar, France

CHU - Louis MOURIER

🇫🇷

Colombes, France

CH - Sud Francilien

🇫🇷

Corbeil-Essonnes, France

PRIVE - Clinique de Flandre

🇫🇷

Coudekerque-Branche, France

PRIVE - Cédres

🇫🇷

Cornebarrieu, France

Ch - C.H.I.C.

🇫🇷

Créteil, France

CHU - Henri Mondor

🇫🇷

Créteil, France

PRIVE - Centre Léonard de Vinci

🇫🇷

Dechy, France

CH - GHPSO Site de Creil

🇫🇷

Creil, France

PRIVE - CAC GF Leclerc

🇫🇷

Dijon, France

PRIVE - Institut de Cancérologie de Bourgogne GRReCC

🇫🇷

Dijon, France

PRIVE - Clinique Claude Bernard

🇫🇷

Ermont, France

CH - Louis Pasteur

🇫🇷

Le Coudray, France

PRIVE - GHM Daniel Hollard

🇫🇷

Grenoble, France

CH - Frejus Saint Raphael

🇫🇷

Fréjus, France

CH - Victor Jousselin

🇫🇷

Dreux, France

CH - CHD Vendée

🇫🇷

La Roche-sur-Yon, France

CH - Marne La Vallée/Jossigny

🇫🇷

Jossigny, France

PRIVE - L'Estuaire

🇫🇷

Le Havre, France

PRIVE - Centre Jean Bernard

🇫🇷

Le Mans, France

CH - Docteur Schaffner

🇫🇷

Lens, France

CHU - Claude Huriez

🇫🇷

Lille, France

CH - Saint Vincent

🇫🇷

Lille, France

PRIVE - CAC Oscar Lambret

🇫🇷

Lille, France

PRIVE - La Louvière Institut de Cancérologie Lille Métropole

🇫🇷

Lille, France

CH - Robert Bisson

🇫🇷

Lisieux, France

CH - CHBS Hôpital du Scrorff

🇫🇷

Lorient, France

PRIVE - Teissier

🇫🇷

Liévin, France

CH - GH Nord Essone

🇫🇷

Longjumeau, France

CHU - Edouard Herriot

🇫🇷

Lyon, France

PRIVE - La Sauvegarde Lyon

🇫🇷

Lyon, France

CHU - La Croix Rousse

🇫🇷

Lyon, France

CH - La Conception

🇫🇷

Marseille, France

CHU - La Timone

🇫🇷

Marseille, France

CH - Saint Joseph

🇫🇷

Marseille, France

CH - GHI de l'Est Francilien Site de Meaux

🇫🇷

Meaux, France

CH - Site du Mittan

🇫🇷

Montbéliard, France

CH - Emile Muller

🇫🇷

Mulhouse, France

CH - Layné

🇫🇷

Mont-de-Marsan, France

PRIVE - Confluent SAS

🇫🇷

Nantes, France

CH - Les Chanaux

🇫🇷

Mâcon, France

PRIVE - Oncologie Gentilly

🇫🇷

Nancy, France

CHR - Centre Hospitalier Régional La Source

🇫🇷

Orléans, France

CHU - Caremeau

🇫🇷

Nîmes, France

CH - Pierre Beregovoy

🇫🇷

Nevers, France

AP - HP - Pitié Salpêtrière

🇫🇷

Paris, France

PRIVE - Hartmann

🇫🇷

Neuilly-sur-Seine, France

CHU - Saint Louis

🇫🇷

Paris, France

Bichat

🇫🇷

Paris, France

CHU - Cochin

🇫🇷

Paris, France

CHU - Lariboisière

🇫🇷

Paris, France

CHU - Saint Antoine

🇫🇷

Paris, France

CHU - Tenon

🇫🇷

Paris, France

PRIVE - Saint Joseph

🇫🇷

Paris, France

CHU - Lyon Sud

🇫🇷

Pierre-Bénite, France

PRIVE - Centre Oncologie Catalan

🇫🇷

Perpignan, France

Privé - Montsouris

🇫🇷

Paris, France

PRIVE - Centre Cario HPCA

🇫🇷

Plérin, France

CHU - Robert Debré

🇫🇷

Reims, France

PRIVEE - Polyclinique Courlancy

🇫🇷

Reims, France

CAC - Institut Curie R. Huguenin

🇫🇷

Saint-Cloud, France

PRIVE - Saint Grégoire

🇫🇷

Saint-Grégoire, France

CHU - Charles Nicolle

🇫🇷

Rouen, France

PRIVE - Clinique Mutualiste de l'Estuaire

🇫🇷

Saint-Nazaire, France

CH - Centre Hospitalier de Saint Malo

🇫🇷

Saint-Malo, France

CH - Begin

🇫🇷

Saint-Mandé, France

CHU - Hôpital Nord CHU Saint Etienne

🇫🇷

Saint-Priest-en-Jarez, France

PRIVE - Ramsay Sainte Loire

🇫🇷

Saint-Étienne, France

PRIVE - Trenel

🇫🇷

Sainte-Colombe, France

CH - Foch

🇫🇷

Suresnes, France

CH - Maison Santé Protestante

🇫🇷

Talence, France

CH - Birgorre

🇫🇷

Tarbes, France

CH - Leman

🇫🇷

Thonon-les-Bains, France

CH - Sainte Musse

🇫🇷

Toulon, France

CH - Gustave Dron

🇫🇷

Tourcoing, France

CAC - Oncopole

🇫🇷

Toulouse, France

CHU - Rangueil

🇫🇷

Toulouse, France

CHU - Bretonneau

🇫🇷

Tours, France

PRIVE - Dentellières

🇫🇷

Valenciennes, France

CHU - Brabois

🇫🇷

Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France

PRIVE - Robert Schuman

🇫🇷

Vantoux, France

CH - Paul Morel

🇫🇷

Vesoul, France

CAC - Gustave Roussy

🇫🇷

Villejuif, France

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