Patients with cancer are thought to have a weakened immune system and small observational case series have suggested patients with cancer are at a higher risk of poor outcome from COVID-19. However, the clinical course of COVID-19 infection amongst cancer patients is not known. In addition, it is unclear when it is appropriate for cancer patients who have recovered from COVID-19 infection to resume anti-cancer therapy.
There is unmet need for diagnostic assays for COVID-19 including tests which can rapidly determine whether the virus has been cleared of the COVID-19. Lateral flow assays investigated in this study are rapid and simple diagnostic tools which can assist in timely diagnostics to inform clinical decision making.
This observational study aims to describe the immunological dynamics and clinical course of COVID-19 in cancer patients and evaluate COVID-19 antibody and antigen lateral flow assays.
The information from our study will add significantly to the understanding of COVID-19 diagnostics and will improve the evidence-base for the management of cancer patients. Furthermore, data from this study could inform the timing and treatment for cancer patients who have recovered from COVID-19 infection.
