TY - JOUR
T1 - Immune Response following BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination in Pediatric Cancer Patients
AU - Schmidt, K L Juliëtte
AU - Dautzenberg, Noël M M
AU - Hoogerbrugge, Peter M
AU - Lindemans, Caroline A
AU - Nierkens, Stefan
AU - Smits, Gaby
AU - Van Binnendijk, Rob S
AU - Bont, Louis J
AU - Tissing, Wim J E
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/5
Y1 - 2023/5
N2 - COVID-19 vaccinations are recommended for children with cancer but data on their vaccination response is scarce. This study assesses the antibody and T-cell response following a 2- or 3-dose vaccination with BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in children (5-17 years) with cancer. For the antibody response, participants with a serum concentration of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike 1 antibodies of >300 binding antibody units per milliliter were classified as good responders. For the T-cell response, categorization was based on spike S1 specific interferon-gamma release with good responders having >200 milli-international units per milliliter. The patients were categorized as being treated with chemo/immunotherapy for less than 6 weeks (Tx < 6 weeks) or more than 6 weeks (Tx > 6 weeks) before the first immunization event. In 46 patients given a 2-dose vaccination series, the percentage of good antibody and good T-cell responders was 39.3% and 73.7% in patients with Tx < 6 weeks and 94.4% and 100% in patients with Tx > 6 weeks, respectively. An additional 3rd vaccination in 16 patients with Tx < 6 weeks, increased the percentage of good antibody responders to 70% with no change in T-cell response. A 3-dose vaccination series effectively boosted antibody levels and is of value for patients undergoing active cancer treatment.
AB - COVID-19 vaccinations are recommended for children with cancer but data on their vaccination response is scarce. This study assesses the antibody and T-cell response following a 2- or 3-dose vaccination with BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in children (5-17 years) with cancer. For the antibody response, participants with a serum concentration of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike 1 antibodies of >300 binding antibody units per milliliter were classified as good responders. For the T-cell response, categorization was based on spike S1 specific interferon-gamma release with good responders having >200 milli-international units per milliliter. The patients were categorized as being treated with chemo/immunotherapy for less than 6 weeks (Tx < 6 weeks) or more than 6 weeks (Tx > 6 weeks) before the first immunization event. In 46 patients given a 2-dose vaccination series, the percentage of good antibody and good T-cell responders was 39.3% and 73.7% in patients with Tx < 6 weeks and 94.4% and 100% in patients with Tx > 6 weeks, respectively. An additional 3rd vaccination in 16 patients with Tx < 6 weeks, increased the percentage of good antibody responders to 70% with no change in T-cell response. A 3-dose vaccination series effectively boosted antibody levels and is of value for patients undergoing active cancer treatment.
KW - cancer
KW - pediatrics
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - vaccination
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85159236185&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/cancers15092562
DO - 10.3390/cancers15092562
M3 - Article
C2 - 37174028
SN - 2072-6694
VL - 15
SP - 1
EP - 15
JO - Cancers
JF - Cancers
IS - 9
M1 - 2562
ER -