Only a Third of Blood Cancer Patients Had Antibodies Against Delta Variant After 2 Vaccine Doses, Study Finds
Fully vaccinated people with cancer who have no history of SARS-CoV-2 infection have much lower levels of neutralizing antibodies against the Delta variant (54%) than against the original SARS-CoV-2 virus (83%), a study has found.
The Capture study, conducted by the Francis Crick Institute and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, analyzed the immune responses of 585 patients with different types of cancer after they received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
The researchers found that just 31% of infection naive patients with blood cancer developed neutralizing antibodies against the Delta variant, compared with 62% of patients with solid cancers. The response was 68% overall in patients who had received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and 50% in recipients of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.
Patients were recruited from May 2020 to June 2021. The median age was 60, and 60% were male. Overall, 31% (181/585) had prior confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Around three quarters of participants (447/585) had a current diagnosis of a solid cancer, and 24% (138/585) had blood cancer.
Rather than looking at COVID-19 cases, the researchers used viral neutralization assay tests to measure the levels of antibodies that block different variants of the virus. The researchers looked at whether patients had levels of neutralizing antibodies that were sufficient to block at least 50% of virus infection under laboratory conditions.
Vaccine doses
The paper, published in Nature Cancer, also reported that neutralizing antibody responses against the Delta variant were higher in patients with previously confirmed COVID-19 infection than in those with no previous infection: 57% v 31% in patients with blood cancers, and 86% v 62% in patients with solid cancers.
The researchers said these findings suggested that a third vaccine dose could effectively boost immunity in these vulnerable patients.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization has recommended that immunosuppressed adults — including people with blood cancer and patients with solid cancers receiving immunosuppressive chemotherapy or radiotherapy — should receive a third vaccine dose this autumn. On top of this they could also receive a separate fourth dose as a booster at a later date.
Looking at T cell responses, the research team found that 79% of vaccinated patients with cancer developed a T cell response, with similar reactions seen in patients with solid and blood cancers. Notably, the vaccines were found to induce T cells in patients who did not have a neutralizing antibody response.
Samra Turajlic, lead author and a consultant medical oncologist at the Royal Marsden Trust, said:
“This study provides evidence that variants of concern pose a greater threat to some patients with cancer, specifically those with blood cancer. Our findings support the argument that these people should be prioritised to receive a third vaccine dose.
“Reinstating simple public health measures, such as wearing masks in public transport and other indoor spaces, will help to protect and reassure vulnerable patients with cancer, their careers, and healthcare workers. Such measures can also reduce the indirect impact of the pandemic on cancer patients caused by disruption of healthcare services.”
Originally published by The BMJ October 27, 2021, written by Elisabeth Mahase, reproduced here under the terms of the CC BY NC license.
The post Only a Third of Blood Cancer Patients Had Antibodies Against Delta Variant After 2 Vaccine Doses, Study Finds appeared first on Children's Health Defense.
© 28 Oct 2021 Children’s Health Defense, Inc. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of Children’s Health Defense, Inc. Want to learn more from Children’s Health Defense? Sign up for free news and updates from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the Children’s Health Defense. Your donation will help to support us in our efforts.
