Guidance

Recommendations for research

Recommendations for research

We have made the following recommendations for research.

1 Risk of systemic anticancer treatment in people with cancer and COVID-19

Are patients with cancer and COVID-19 who are receiving/have recently received systemic anticancer treatment (SACT) (that is, within the 4 weeks preceding a diagnosis of COVID-19) at increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness or death? [12 February 2021]

It is recommended that this research should also consider:

  • if there are specific types of SACT carrying increased risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19

  • if there are specific types of cancer for which SACT may carry increased risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19

  • if there is a difference in any risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19 between people who have received SACT alone, radiotherapy alone, or both SACT and radiotherapy

  • if there is a difference in any risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19 between children and young people who have received SACT and adults who have received SACT.

2 Duration of risk of systemic anticancer treatment in people with cancer and COVID-19

Are people who have had SACT recently (that is, within the 4 weeks preceding a diagnosis of COVID-19) at increased risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19 compared with those who had SACT less recently? [12 February 2021]