COVID-19 risk in breast cancer patients receiving CDK4/6 inhibitors: literature data and a monocentric experience

Breast J. 2021 Apr;27(4):359-362. doi: 10.1111/tbj.14204. Epub 2021 Mar 6.

Abstract

Substantial changes in the management of cancer patients have been required worldwide in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond the due details on the primitive cancer site and setting at diagnosis, these latter adaptions are most commonly exemplified by a significant reduction in the screening of asymptomatic subjects, delays in elective surgery and radiotherapy for primary tumors, and dose reductions and/or delays in systemic therapy administration. Advanced breast cancer patients with hormonal receptor positive, HER2 negative tumors are usually treated with endocrine therapy combined with CDK 4/6 inhibitors as first- and second-line treatment. During the pandemic, experts' recommendations have suggested the omission or delay of CDK 4/6 inhibitors delivery, or a careful evaluation of their real need due to the hypothesized increased risk of SARS-Cov-2 infection and disease possibly related to neutropenia. The inherent literature is sparse and inconsistent. We herein present data on the use of CDK 4/6 inhibitors during the pandemic. The evidence reported punctually reflects the experience matured at our Institution, a comprehensive cancer centre, on the topic of interest.

Keywords: CDK4/6 inhibitors; Covid-19; HR positive/HER2 negative metastatic breast cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6