Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 25, 2025

Using 22C3 Anti-PD-L1 Antibody Concentrate on Biopsy and Cytology Samples from Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients
Published on: September 25, 2018
COVID-19 Infections in Cancer Patients Were Frequently Asymptomatic: Description From a French Prospective
Ke Zhou1,2, Jean-Luc Raoul3, Audrey Blanc-Lapierre4
1Department of Human and Social Sciences, Institut de Cancérologie de l'Ouest (ICO), Saint-Herblain, France.
Over 40% of COVID-19 positive cancer patients remained asymptomatic. Geographic location was the only factor associated with symptom presentation, highlighting the need for protective measures for vulnerable cancer patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Cancer patients (CPs) are a vulnerable population with increased mortality risk from COVID-19.
- Understanding asymptomatic COVID-19 cases in CPs is crucial for infection control.
- Previous studies have focused on symptomatic COVID-19 in CPs, leaving asymptomatic cases under-explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe asymptomatic COVID-19 cases among cancer patients.
- To identify factors associated with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in this population.
- To inform public health strategies for protecting vulnerable cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study (PAPESCO) was conducted in 4 French cancer centers.
- Data from 878 cancer patients were analyzed between June and November 2020 (first two COVID-19 waves, no variants).
- COVID-19 status was determined by blood rapid diagnostic tests and RT-PCR; symptoms were self-reported.
Main Results:
- COVID-19 prevalence was 8% in cancer patients, similar to healthcare workers (9.5%).
- Of 70 COVID-19 positive cancer patients, 41.4% were asymptomatic.
- Symptom presentation varied significantly by study center, with only geographic origin associated with asymptomatic status.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 seroprevalence in cancer patients mirrored that in healthcare workers.
- A significant proportion of COVID-19 positive cancer patients were asymptomatic.
- Strict adherence to social distancing and protective measures is essential for cancer patients, both in healthcare settings and at home.
More Related Videos
10:29Semi-automatic PD-L1 Characterization and Enumeration of Circulating Tumor Cells from Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients by Immunofluorescence
Published on: August 14, 2019
09:32Multiplexed Immunofluorescence Analysis and Quantification of Intratumoral PD-1+ Tim-3+ CD8+ T Cells
Published on: February 8, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
Cancer
Treatment Resistant Cancers
Cancer Vaccines
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell