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potential anti-inflammatory and antiviral activity, did not show any benefit in the two most relevant clinical
[15]
[16]
trials: WHO SOLIDARITY or RECOVERY . Likewise, the trials carried out with lopinavir/ritonavir
[14]
have not shown encouraging results either. There is modest evidence that the use of plasma from recovered
COVID-19 patients could have benefits for infected patients ; however further studies are needed to draw
[17]
conclusions in this regard.
Currently, there are several vaccines under development for COVID-19 based on different mechanisms
that generate immunization (viral vectors, inactivated, attenuated viruses or recombinant proteins, among
[18]
others) . Some of these vaccines are now approved by health institutions.

CANCER AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The immunosuppressed status of some cancer patients (either caused by the disease itself or by treatment)
appears to increase their risk of infection to COVID-19 when compared to the general population.
Although current evidence about the incidence of COVID-19 in cancer patients is limited, existing data
seem to indicate that the incidence of infection in this group of patients is higher than in the general
population. In a study carried out in a hospital in Madrid (Spain) between February 2020 and April 2020,
a cumulative incidence of 4.2% was observed in patients admitted to the oncology service compared to a
[19]
cumulative incidence of 0.63% . Likewise, in a study carried out in a hospital in China in early 2020, Yu et
[20]
al. , reported a higher cumulative incidence of COVID-19 contraction in cancer patients compared to the
rest of the general population that attended this hospital (0.79% vs. 0.37%).

Immunosuppression can also make cancer patients more likely to present with complications SARS-Cov2
infection. Liang et al. , reported that patients with neoplasms have a 3.5 times higher risk of serious
[21]
infections that require mechanical ventilation and admission to the ICU, and associated with greater
number of deaths, compared to patients without cancer. A history of cancer was also found to confer the
highest risk of serious complications and correlate with worse COVID-19 outcomes. In particular, lung
cancer patients were more likely to experience serious complications compared to patients with other
neoplasm, although the most common type of oncologic disease in COVID-19 patients in this study was
found to be lung neoplasm. The increased susceptibility of cancer patients to severe complications of
COVID-19 can be caused by the neoplasm itself or the different kinds of treatments this patients receive.

Other studies also support the theory that the rate of complications and mortality in patients with both
COVID-19 and cancer is higher. In a meta-analyses published by Giannakoulis et al. , and Venkatesulu
[22]
[23]
et al. , the results seem to indicate that the prognosis and mortality of COVID-19 are indeed higher in
cancer patients.

Some studies suggest that patients with advanced cancer or certain types of neoplasia are more likely
to develop serious complications from COVID-19. Among the clinical factors associated with worse
[24]
outcomes, Tian et al. , found that advanced cancer with metastasis worsened the prognosis of patients
with COVID-19 and neoplastic disease.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with lung cancer tends to be more severe and has a worse prognosis,
similar to hematologic neoplasms. In a multicenter study by Dai et al. , only patients with stage IV
[25]
metastatic cancer, haematological neoplasms, or lung cancer showed a worse evolution. Similar results were
obtained in the study carried out by Jee et al. , in patients under active chemotherapy treatment, wherein
[26]
its diagnosis of lung neoplasia was determined as a predictor of poor prognosis in COVID-19 infection,
also confirmed by other authors [27,28] .