Tumori Journal Abstract Book - October 2020 - 87

D - COVID-19
Martella F.1, Pozzessere D.2, Rossi F.3, Di Lieto M.4, Milandri C.5,
Santini S.6, Pazzagli I.7, Vezzani E.M.8, Lanini F.9, Ribecco A.S.10,
Fabbroni V.11, Moretti S.12, Giordano C.13, Manfredi M.14, Casprini
P.15, Fioretto L.16
1

SOC Oncologia medica Firenze Ospedale S.M. Annunziata Azienda Usl
Toscana Centro, Bagno a Ripoli, Firenze; 2SOC Oncologia medica Prato
Azienda Usl Toscana Centro, Prato; 3SOC Radioterapia Firenze Azienda
Usl Toscana Centro, Bagno a Ripoli, Firenze; 4SOC Oncologia medica
Pistoia Azienda Usl Toscana Centro, Pistoia; 5SOC Oncologia medica
Empoli Azienda Usl Toscana Centro, Empoli; 6SOC Oncoematologia
Azienda Usl Toscana Centro, Prato; 7SOS Oncologia medica Pescia
Azienda Usl Toscana Centro, Pescia; 8SOC Radioterapia Pistoia e Prato
Azienda Usl Toscana Centro, Pistoia; 9SOS Oncologia Ospedale S.M.
Nuova Firenze Azienda Usl Toscana Centro, Firenze; 10SOS Oncologia
Ospedale S. Giovanni di Dio Firenze Azienda Usl Toscana Centro, Firenze;
11
SOS Oncologia Ospedale del Mugello Azienda Usl Toscana Centro,
Borgo San Lorenzo; 12SOS Oncoematologia Firenze Azienda Usl Toscana
Centro, Firenze; 13SOS oncologia media Serristori e S.M. Annunziata
Azienda Usl Toscana Centro, Figline Valdarno; 14SOS Laboratorio
immunologia allergologia Ospedale San Giovanni di Dio Azienda Usl
Toscana Centro, Firenze; 15SOC Patologia Clinica e Immunoallergologia
Firenze-Prato Azienda Usl Toscana Centro, Prato; 16Dipartimento
Oncologico Azienda Usl Toscana Centro, Firenze

Background: Inadequate knowledge about extent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) epidemic challenges
health response and planning. COVID19 mortality among
cancer patients (pts) is higher than in general population.
The identification of asymptomatic COVID19 cancer pts
is important from both a personal and a health system
point of view as immunosuppression increases COVID19
disease severity. Screening for asymptomatic carriers is
being tested in some categories. The best method for
screening and monitoring is yet unknown.
Material and methods: Azienda Usl Toscana Centro
Oncology department tested pts receiving chemo- or
radio- therapy. Aims were checking the prevalence of
asymptomatic COVID19 cancer pts and evaluating the
need and the best method for subsequent monitoring. Pts
were offered both a quantitative serologic IgM and IgG
test (Qt-ST) and a RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs (NOS). As the
Qt-ST is costly and requires hours for response, in S.M.
Annunziata Hospital (SMA), pts were also tested with a
qualitative serologic IgM and IgG method (Ql-ST) to collect information on different serologic assays.
Results: Between May 11th and 17th, 1148 pts receiving
an active antineoplastic treatment signed a written
informed consent and were screened with RT-PCR for
SARS-CoV-2 in NOS and Qt-ST. 317 pts in SMA were
also tested with Ql-ST. 16 pts refused RT-PCR, 3 Qt-ST
and none Ql-ST. 89 pts with haematological malignancy
didn't receive ST. Only 0.44% (5/1132) of asymptomatic
cancer pts had a positive RT-PCR. 1 of them had
COVID19 disease and was declared healed 14 days
before screening. All pts with a positive RT-PCR in NOS
had a positive Qt-ST for IgM. 1/5 had also IgG positivity.

87
Qt-ST was positive in 26/1145 pts (2.3%): 3 were IgM+/
IgG+, 10 IgM+/IgG- and 13 IgM-/IgG+. 19.2% of pts
with a positive Qt-ST (5/26) were asymptomatic carriers
of COVID19 disease. In SMA, 6/317 (1.9%) had a positive Qt-ST, 21 (6.6%) a positive Ql-ST and all were negative for RT-PCR in NOS.
Conclusions: With a positivity of 0.44%, RT-PCR for
SARS-CoV-2 in NOS may not be cost-effective for screening in asymptomatic cancer pts under antineoplastic treatment from a patient point of view. However, RT-PCR may
improve both the compliance and the safety's sense of pts
and operators in hospital and is mandatory in case of ST
positivity. Qt-ST is more accurate than Ql-ST. Both Qt-ST
and Ql-ST were safe and may be a proper option for monitoring cancer pts based on local organization.

D43
SARS-CoV-2 infection in Cancer
Patients: a picture of an Italian
Onco-Covid Unit
Reale M.L.1, Bironzo P.1, Bertaglia V.1, Palesandro E.1, Leone G.1,
Tabbò F.1, Bungaro M.1, Audisio M.1, Mariniello A.1, Rapetti S.1, Di
Stefano R.F.1, Artusio E.1, Capelletto E.1, Sperone P.1, Boccuzzi A.2,
Calandri M.3, Perboni A.4, Passiglia F.1, Novello S.1
1
Department of Oncology, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital,
Orbassano (TO); 2Emergency Medicine, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital,
Orbassano (TO); 3Radiology Unit, Department of Oncology, University of
Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano (TO); 4Pneumologia, San Luigi
Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano (TO)

Background: The world, and Italy on the front lines, is
experiencing a major medical emergency due to the SARSCoV-2 outbreak. Cancer patients are one of the potentially
most vulnerable cohorts of people, but data about their
management are still limited.
Patients and methods: In this monocentric retrospective
study we included all SARS-CoV-2 oncological patients
accepted at the Onco-COVID Unit at San Luigi Gonzaga
Hospital, one of the few oncological departments dedicated to cancer patients with SARS-Cov-2 infection in
Italy. Clinical data were obtained from medical records
available until April 24th, 2020.
Results: 20 cancer patients were included. The mean
(±SD) age of the patients was 66±14 years, 80% were
men. Eight (40%) developed infection in their communities and 12 (60%) during the hospitalization. Lung cancer
was the most frequent type of cancer (12, 60%), followed
by blood/bone marrow cancer (3, 15%). Eight patients
(40%) were symptomatic for COVID-19 at the time of
diagnosis and symptoms began 2 (±2) days before. The
most common were shortness of breath and diarrhea.
Fever was present in 7 patients (35%). Among the 12
asymptomatic patients, 8 (67%) became symptomatic

Tumori Journal Abstract Book - October 2020

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