Contents
Special Issue Topic

COVID-19 and Cancer

Guest Editor

Prof. Rossana Berardi E-Mail

Professor in Medical Oncology and Director of the Postgraduate School of Medical Oncology at Università Politecnica Marche; Director of Department of Medical Oncology, Director of “Genetic Cancer” Center and Breast Unit Coordinator at Ospedali Riuniti of Ancona, Italy

Research Keywords: thoracic cancer; breast cancer; neuroendocrine tumors; innovative therapies; COVID-19 and cancer

About the Special lssue

Since December 2019, SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has promptly spread to nearly every country overcoming 80 million of confirmed cases worldwide with 1.8 million of deaths. The huge number of infections and the rapid growth of cases put under strain many national health systems as well as health care professionals fighting the epidemic, thus more exposed to physical and psychological repercussions. Many governments announced national lockdowns of varying degrees, an extraordinary containment measure in order to rebalance resources foiling the spread of contagion. Furthermore, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines have been developed and are now available to provide acquired immunity against SARS-CoV-2.

While COVID-19 might potentially affect anyone, the majority (more than two-thirds) of deaths have occurred in people with concomitant conditions as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung diseases, cancer or a combination of these factors. In particular, cancer patients should be considered one of the most vulnerable population as a consequence of their systemic condition as well as of adverse events due to oncologic therapies. Furthermore, COVID-19 might delay cancer care postponing diagnosis and treatment and thus negatively affecting patients’ prognosis. 

Based on these considerations, we released this special issue about COVID-19 and cancer in order to provide an exhaustive overview of this prevailing topic.

Keywords: Cancer; COVID-19; pandemic; SARS-CoV-2; oncology

Published Articles

Open Access Review
Telehealth in breast cancer following the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic
Jean Zeghondy ... Barbara Pistilli
Published: December 26, 2023 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2023;4:1249–1259
1396 12 0
Open Access Review
Coronavirus disease 2019 and lung cancer: where are we?
Abrahams Ocanto ... Felipe Couñago
Published: October 30, 2023 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2023;4:1082–1094
1744 16 1
Open Access Systematic Review
Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on good clinical practice trials in oncology
Veronica Agostinelli ... Rossana Berardi
Published: October 30, 2023 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2023;4:1095–1103
1425 11 0
Open Access Systematic Review
Effect of coronavirus disease 2019 on diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review
Afrooz Mazidimoradi ... Hamid Salehiniya
Published: October 26, 2023 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2023;4:1039–1058
1483 15 2
Open Access Original Article
A single experience in the conduction of clinical trial during COronaVIrusDisease-2019 pandemic
Zelmira Ballatore ... Rossana Berardi
Published: September 07, 2023 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2023;4:793–800
1519 21 0
Open Access Original Article
Consequences of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer at a single Italian institution
Daniele Ugo Tari ... Fabio Pinto
Published: July 29, 2022 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2022;3:414–422
1995 54 7
Open Access Systematic Review
Management of lung cancer patients during COVID-19 pandemic: dos, don’ts and don’t knows
Mariangela Torniai ... Rossana Berardi
Published: June 10, 2022 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2022;3:321–336
1904 36 1
Open Access Original Article
Performing oncological procedures during COVID-19 outbreak: a picture from an Italian cancer center
Maristella Bungaro ... Silvia Novello
Published: October 31, 2021 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2021;2:481–489
2009 34 0