Safety and immunogenicity of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in people with gastrointestinal cancer

Factors Associated with IgG/IgM Levels after SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

This study evaluated the factors influencing IgG/IgM antibody levels in 120 patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) following vaccination with inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Each patient's demographic and clinical data were documented, and serum IgG and IgM antibodies were detected using a commercial magnetic chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay kit. The results indicated that while all patients had received at least one vaccine dose, 95 tested positive for IgG and 25 were negative. A higher proportion of IgG-positive patients had received three vaccine doses. Comparatively, gamma-glutamyl transferase levels were elevated in IgM-negative patients. The study further differentiated patients based on their treatment status: 46 were treatment-naive and 74 had received chemotherapy combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICT) at enrollment. Despite similar baseline characteristics and time from vaccination to antibody detection, IgM positivity was significantly lower in the ICT group, with no significant difference in IgG positivity between the treatment-naive and ICT groups. A multivariable analysis identified the number of vaccine doses as an independent factor of IgG positivity, while ICT emerged as an independent risk factor for IgM positivity. Additionally, IgG titers generally declined over time, although patients with higher baseline IgG levels maintained higher titers longer. In conclusion, ICT in patients with HNC does not significantly affect IgG levels post-vaccination. However, booster vaccinations have been shown to be associated with higher IgG positivity, although these levels gradually decrease over time.

Safety and Immunogenicity After Primary and Booster Inactivated SARS-Cov-2 Vaccination in Patients with Autoimmune Liver Diseases

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

SARS-CoV-2 vaccines-associated autoimmune liver diseases have been reported in several case reports. However, the safety and immunogenicity after primary and booster inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with autoimmune liver diseases (AILD) is still unknown.

METHODS

Eighty-four patients with AILD were prospectively followed up after the second dose (primary) of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Some of them received the third dose (booster) of inactivated vaccine. Adverse events (AEs), autoimmune activation, and liver inflammation exacerbation after primary and booster vaccination were recorded. Meanwhile, dynamics of antireceptor-binding-domain IgG (anti-RBD-IgG), neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) and RBD-specific B cells responses were evaluated.

RESULTS

The overall AEs in AILD patients after primary and booster vaccination were 26.2% and 13.3%, respectively. The decrease of C3 level and increase of immunoglobulin light chain κ and λ levels were observed in AILD patients after primary vaccination, however, liver inflammation was not exacerbated, even after booster vaccination. Both the seroprevalence and titers of anti-RBD-IgG and NAbs were decreased over time in AILD patients after primary vaccination. Notably, the antibody titers were significantly elevated after booster vaccination (10-fold in anti-RBD-IgG and 7.4-fold in NAbs, respectively), which was as high as in healthy controls. Unfortunately, the inferior antibody response was not enhanced after booster vaccination in patients with immunosuppressants. Changes of atypical memory B cells were inversely related to antibody levels, which indicate that the impaired immune memory was partially restored partly by the booster vaccination.

CONCLUSIONS

The well tolerability and enhanced humoral immune response of inactivated vaccine supports an additional booster vaccination in AILD patients without immunosuppressants.

Short-term safety and immunogenicity of inactivated and peptide-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with endocrine-related cancer

Background

The aim of this study was to explore the short-term safety and immunogenicity of inactivated and peptide-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with endocrine-related cancer (ER).

Methods

Eighty-eight patients with ER cancer and 82 healthy controls who had completed a full course of inactivated or peptide-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were recruited. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded. Responses to receptor-binding domain IgG antibody (anti-RBD-IgG), neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) and RBD+ memory B cells (MBCs) were evaluated.

Results

Approximately 26.14% (23/88) of patients with ER cancer reported AEs within 7 days, which was comparable to that reported by healthy controls (24.39%, 20/82). Both the overall seroprevalence of anti-RBD-IgG and NAbs was obviously lower in the cancer group (70.45% vs. 86.59%, P < 0.05; 69.32% vs. 82.93%, P < 0.05, respectively). Anti-RBD-IgG and NAbs titers exhibited similar results, and dropped gradually over time. Patients with ongoing treatment had an attenuated immune response, especially in patients receiving active chemotherapy. The frequency of overall RBD+ MBCs was similar between the two groups, but the percentage of active MBCs was remarkably reduced in patients with ER cancer. Unlike antibody titers, MBCs responses were relatively constant over time.

Conclusion

Inactivated and peptide-based COVID-19 vaccines were well tolerated, but with lower immunogenicity for ER cancer patients. More intensive antibody monitoring and timely booster immunization is recommended for patients with ER cancer presenting disordered subpopulations of RBD+ MBCs.