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Published on: July 15, 2015
Response to anti-SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients
Joanna Zaleska1,2, Paulina Kwasnik1, Magdalena Paziewska1
1Department of Experimental Hematooncology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
Abstract:
Multiple myeloma (MM) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients have increased morbidity and mortality rates of COVID-19 due to immunosuppression associated with the disease and ongoing therapy. The same immune impairment accompanying CLL and MM also affects suboptimal vaccine response. The study assessed the effectiveness of the humoral and T cell-mediated immunity following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination (using either BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273) in short-term (2-5 weeks after second dose) and long-term follow-up (12 weeks after vaccination). Between March and August 2021, blood samples were obtained from 62 CLL and 60 MM patients from eight different hematology departments in Poland. Total anti-RBD antibodies were detected in 37% MM patients before vaccination, increased to 91% and 94% in short- and long-term follow-up, respectively. In CLL, serological responses were detectable in 21% of patients before vaccination and increased to 45% in the short-term and 71% in long-term observation. We detected a tendency to higher frequencies of specific CD8+ T cells against SARS-CoV-2 after vaccination compared to samples before vaccination in MM patients and no changes in frequencies of specific T cells in CLL patients. Our study provides novel insights into mRNA vaccination efficacy in immunocompromised MM and CLL patients, and our findings highlight that specific CD8+ T cells against SARS-CoV-2 might be induced by vaccination but do not correlate positively with serological responses.
Insights
mRNA COVID-19 vaccines show improved antibody responses in multiple myeloma (MM) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. However, T-cell responses may not correlate with antibody levels in these immunocompromised individuals.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) face higher risks from COVID-19 due to disease-related and treatment-induced immunosuppression.
- This immune impairment also leads to reduced effectiveness of vaccinations in these populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the humoral and T cell-mediated immune responses to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273) in patients with MM and CLL.
- To assess these responses in both short-term (2-5 weeks) and long-term (12 weeks) follow-up periods after the second vaccine dose.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were collected from 62 CLL and 60 MM patients between March and August 2021 in Poland.
- Detected total anti-RBD antibodies and quantified specific CD8+ T cells against SARS-CoV-2 before and after vaccination.
Main Results:
- Anti-RBD antibody levels significantly increased post-vaccination in both MM (37% pre-vaccination to 91% short-term, 94% long-term) and CLL patients (21% pre-vaccination to 45% short-term, 71% long-term).
- A trend towards increased CD8+ T cells against SARS-CoV-2 was observed in MM patients post-vaccination, but no significant changes were noted in CLL patients.
- No positive correlation was found between vaccine-induced CD8+ T cell responses and serological antibody levels.
Conclusions:
- mRNA COVID-19 vaccination elicits a notable humoral immune response in immunocompromised MM and CLL patients.
- While T-cell responses may be induced, their correlation with antibody levels is not consistently observed, suggesting complex immune dynamics in these patient groups.
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