Does Convalescent Plasma Really Show Survival Benefit for Covid Patients with Blood Cancer?

Over 900, 000+ people worldwide are diagnosed with blood cancer every single year. Of the 140 types of blood cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma are the main types. 

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic at the end of 2019, the virus has wreaked havoc on everyone, especially blood cancer patients. Ask any leukemia cancer doctor in Delhi NCR or anywhere in the world, and they will agree. 

There is proof. 

A study was conducted in the United Kingdom on cancer patients with Covid-19. The findings indicated that when it comes to the virulent Covid-19 virus, not all cancers carry the same risks. In fact, blood cancer patients with leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, etc., were found to be more susceptible to experiencing more severe cases of Covid-19. According to the U.K. Coronavirus Cancer Monitoring Project (UKCCMP), leukemia patients, particularly, had more than twice the chance of dying from the virus.

So, how can blood cancer patients stay safe from Covid-19? This is what cancer specialists suggest: 

• Wash their hands frequently
• Use approved hand sanitizers and disinfectants regularly
• Avoid large crowds & gatherings
• Practice social distancing at all times when outside
• Avoid touching their eyes, nose, or mouth
• Avoid sick people
• Stay home if they’re sick or have been exposed to someone who is sick
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched areas and objects

But what happens if a blood cancer patient does get infected by the Covid-19? Is there a treatment option? 

Convalescent plasma is being touted as a hero component showing survival benefits for Covid-19 patients with blood cancer. 

But is convalescent plasma really the magic recipe for Covid care in blood cancer patients with Covid-19? 

First, let’s talk about what convalescent plasma is. 

Plasma is the liquid part of the blood accounting for 55% of the total amount. Convalescent plasma is the plasma that comes from people who have recovered from an infection, like Covid-19. This plasma often contains antibodies against the said virus.

The antibodies are proteins that an infection-fighting immune system makes that can neutralize or kill the virus & help you recover.

Convalescent Plasma Treatment Effectiveness on COVID-19 patient with Blood Cancer

According to a recent study published in JAMA Oncology, convalescent plasma treatment appeared to be associated with a reduction in the 30-day mortality rate in patients with hematologic malignancies who have been hospitalized for Covid-19.

The study was led by eminent researchers from Washington University in the United States. It indicated that there’s a 48% reduced risk of death for Covid-19 patients with blood cancer who had received convalescent plasma when compared to similar patients who had not received the plasma treatment. 

According to a Healio article, Jeremy L. Warner, MD, MS, FAMIA, FASCO, an associate professor of medicine and biomedical informatics in the division of hematology/oncology at Vanderbilt University has said, “In patients with blood cancers who are hospitalized due to COVID-19, it would appear that convalescent plasma may be of benefit.” He also said, “This is a group of patients who usually have severe underlying immunodeficiencies, due to the cancer itself, and/or the treatment. Thus, one would expect that they cannot make their own antibodies in response to the virus.”

Warner said that, per the current knowledge, this study is the first to showcase a Covid-19 treatment with s factually proven & statistically significant survival benefit in patients with cancer, especially blood cancer. 

Apart from the revelation about convalescent plasma’s status in treating blood cancer patients with Covid-19, the treatment was revealed to help many others. 

It was also discovered that the survival benefit with the use of convalescent plasma was even greater in patients with Covid admitted to the ICU. It was a 60% reduced risk of death. It was also greater in patients in need of mechanical ventilation ranging at about 68% reduced mortality. 

Jeffrey P. Henderson, an associate professor of medicine and that of molecular microbiology at the University’s School of Medicine in St. Louis said, “These results suggest that convalescent plasma may not only help Covid-19 patients with blood cancers whose immune systems are compromised, it may also help patients with other illnesses who have weakened antibody responses to this virus or to the vaccines.”

There are two crucial points here, according to Warner. Firstly, cancer patients have been systematically excluded from most treatment trials of Covid-19 despite them being one of the most vulnerable populations. Secondly, the findings of the study, while positive, are not definitive.

Epilogue

Is Convalescent Plasma the holy grail treatment for blood cancer patients with Covid-19? Yes, and no.
It is definitely a great option for such patients, a better option when options are already scarce, but more information on it is also needed. If you want more information or want to talk about your options as a blood cancer patient with Covid-19, you can always consult an expert like Dr. Manish Singhal, a top blood cancer and especially leukemia cancer doctor in Noida.