Cancer and sepsis: future challenges for long-term outcome

The purpose of this review is to investigate the long-term outcomes of cancer patients who experience sepsis or septic shock.

Sepsis is a frequent cause of ICU admission in cancer patients, accounting for approximately 15% of such cases. Short-term mortality rates among these patients vary widely across studies, but they are consistently found to be slightly higher than those of noncancer patients. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the long-term outcomes of cancer patients who have experienced sepsis or septic shock. The few available studies have reported relatively high mortality rates, reaching around 80% in a few cohort studies. Although several observational studies have noted a decrease in 1-year mortality rates over time, observational data also suggest that sepsis may increase the risk of cancer in the long run.

As cancer is becoming a chronic disease, there is an urgent need for studies on the quality of life of cancer patients who have experienced sepsis. The relationship between sepsis and cancer extends beyond its impact on the progression of cancer, as sepsis might also contribute to the development of cancer.