Immune checkpoint blockade: releasing the breaks or a protective barrier to COVID-19 severe acute respiratory syndrome?

Oliver J Pickles; Lennard Y W Lee; Thomas Starkey; Luke Freeman-Mills; Anna Olsson-Brown; Vinton Cheng; Daniel J Hughes; Alvin Lee; Karin Purshouse; Gary Middleton

doi:10.1038/s41416-020-0930-7

Immune checkpoint blockade: releasing the breaks or a protective barrier to COVID-19 severe acute respiratory syndrome?

Br J Cancer. 2020 Sep;123(5):691-693. doi: 10.1038/s41416-020-0930-7. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
² Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. L.Lee.2@bham.ac.uk.
³ Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
⁴ Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK.
⁵ Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Bebington, Wirral, CH63 4JY, UK.
⁶ Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GL, UK.
⁷ Leeds Cancer Centre, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, LS9 7TF, UK.
⁸ School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK.
⁹ UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
¹⁰ Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK.

Abstract

The rapid emergence of COVID-19 has sent shockwaves through healthcare systems globally, with cancer patients at increased risk. The interplay of the virus and host immune system has been implicated in the development of ARDS. Immunotherapy agents have the potential to adversely potentiate this phenomenon, requiring careful real-world observation.

MeSH terms

B7-H1 Antigen / antagonists & inhibitors
Betacoronavirus / immunology*
COVID-19
CTLA-4 Antigen / antagonists & inhibitors
Clinical Decision-Making
Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
Coronavirus Infections / immunology*
Coronavirus Infections / virology
Humans
Immunosuppression Therapy / adverse effects
Immunosuppression Therapy / methods*
Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects
Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology
Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
Incidence
Interleukin-6 / antagonists & inhibitors
Interleukin-6 / blood
Neoplasms / therapy*
Oncologists / psychology
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
Pneumonia, Viral / immunology*
Pneumonia, Viral / virology
Respiratory Distress Syndrome / immunology*
SARS-CoV-2
Treatment Outcome

Substances

B7-H1 Antigen
CD274 protein, human
CTLA-4 Antigen
CTLA4 protein, human
IL6 protein, human
Immunosuppressive Agents
Interleukin-6

Abstract

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding