Open AccessManagement of Germ Cell Tumors During the Outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus Disease‐19 Pandemic: A Survey of International Expertise Centers
Author(s) -
Nappi Lucia,
Ottaviano Margaret,
Rescigno Pasquale,
Tortora Marianna,
Banna Giuseppe L.,
Baciarello Giulia,
Basso Umberto,
Canil Christina,
Cavo Alessia,
Cossu Rocca Maria,
Czaykowski Piotr,
De Giorgi Ugo,
Garcia del Muro Xavier,
Di Napoli Marilena,
Fornarini Giuseppe,
Gietema Jourik A.,
Heng Daniel Y.C.,
Hotte Sebastien J.,
Kollmannsberger Christian,
Maruzzo Marco,
Messina Carlo,
Morelli Franco,
Mulder Sasja,
Nichols Craig,
Nolè Franco,
Oing Christoph,
Sava Teodoro,
Secondino Simona,
Simone Giuseppe,
Soulieres Denis,
Vincenzi Bruno,
Zucali Paolo A.,
De Placido Sabino,
Palmieri Giovannella
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the oncologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.176
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1549-490X
pISSN - 1083-7159
DOI - 10.1634/theoncologist.2020-0420
Subject(s) - medicine , pandemic , germ cell tumors , public health , family medicine , disease , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , covid-19 , chemotherapy
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has become a public health emergency affecting frail populations, including patients with cancer. This poses the question of whether cancer treatments can be postponed or modified without compromising their efficacy, especially for highly curable cancers such as germ cell tumors (GCTs). Materials and Methods To depict the state‐of‐the‐art management of GCTs during the COVID‐19 pandemic, a survey including 26 questions was circulated by e‐mail among the physicians belonging to three cooperative groups: (a) Italian Germ Cell Cancer Group; (b) European Reference Network–Rare Adult Solid Cancers, Domain G3 (rare male genitourinary cancers); and (c) Genitourinary Medical Oncologists of Canada. Percentages of agreement between Italian respondents (I) versus Canadian respondents (C), I versus European respondents (E), and E versus C were compared by using Fisher's exact tests for dichotomous answers and chi square test for trends for the questions with three or more options. Results Fifty‐three GCT experts responded to the survey: 20 Italian, 6 in other European countries, and 27 from Canada. Telemedicine was broadly used; there was high consensus to interrupt chemotherapy in COVID‐19–positive patients (I = 75%, C = 55%, and E = 83.3%) and for use of granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor primary prophylaxis for neutropenia (I = 65%, C = 62.9%, and E = 50%). The main differences emerged regarding the management of stage I and stage IIA disease, likely because of cultural and geographical differences. Conclusion Our study highlights the common efforts of GCT experts in Europe and Canada to maintain high standards of treatment for patients with GCT with few changes in their management during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Implications for Practice Despite the chaos, disruptions, and fears fomented by the COVID‐19 illness, oncology care teams in Italy, other European countries, and Canada are delivering the enormous promise of curative management strategies for patients with testicular cancer and other germ cell tumors. At the same time, these teams are applying safe and innovative solutions and sharing best practices to minimize frequency and intensity of patient contacts with thinly stretched health care capacity.