Neutralizing Antibodies and Safety of a COVID-19 Vaccine Against SARS-CoV-2 Wild-type and Omicron Variants in Solid Cancer Patients
Busyamas Chewaskulyong, Pattarapong Satjaritanun, Thanika Ketpueak, Thatthan Suksombooncharoen, Chaiyut Charoentum, Nuttaphoom Nuchpong, Apichat Tantraworasin.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the seroconversion rate and percent inhibition of neutralizing antibodies against the wild-type and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with solid cancer who received two COVID-19 vaccine doses by comparing chemotherapy and nonchemotherapy groups.
Introduction
COVID-19, an emerging infectious disease first reported in December 2019, is now a global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells triggers an immune response, resulting in the release of inflammatory cytokines. This excessive inflammation drives high morbidity and mortality. In addition to wild-type viruses, novel variants significantly impact disease transmissibility, severity and the immune response. Five major variants of concern (VOCs), including Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma and Omicron variants, have been reported.
Materials and Methods:
This observational prospective cohort study was designed to evaluate humoral immunogenicity in terms of surrogate neutralizing antibodies against the wild-type and XBB Omicron variants, as well as safety, in patients with solid cancer who received two doses of the CoronaVac vaccine. However, the protocol was adapted and amended later to allow different vaccine combinations because of vaccine shortages and uncertainties regarding vaccine management by the Thai government. Combinations of vaccines on different platforms, including mRNA vaccines with mRNA boosters, non-mRNA vaccines with non-mRNA boosters, and non-mRNA vaccines with mRNA boosters, were allowed by the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand.
Discussion
Our study was initially designed during the era of vaccine shortages in Thailand and worldwide. According to government policy at that time, the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines was disorganized, and access to vaccines relied on personal efforts. Therefore, vaccine combinations with different platforms were expected to be heterogeneous unintentionally.
Acknowledgments
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Watchara Kasinrerk, Witida Laopajon, Nuchjira Takheaw, and Supansa Pata for facilitating laboratory data collection and procedures. Their dedication and assistance ensured the smooth execution of our experimental protocols. We also gratefully acknowledge Antika Wongthani for her expert statistical analysis, which significantly contributed to the rigor and interpretation of our study findings. We sincerely thank Chanutchidchanok Jannakorn for her invaluable role in typing and coordinating efforts, which greatly facilitated the organization and execution of this project. This study was partially supported by the Clinical Surgical Research Center, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Citation: Chewaskulyong B, Satjaritanun P, Ketpueak T, Suksombooncharoen T, Charoentum C, Nuchpong N, et al. (2024) Neutralizing antibodies and safety of a COVID-19 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 wild-type and Omicron variants in solid cancer patients. PLoS ONE 19(11): e0310781. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310781
Editor: Harapan Harapan, Universitas Syiah Kuala, INDONESIA
Received: July 13, 2024; Accepted: September 5, 2024; Published: November 7, 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 Chewaskulyong et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Data Availability: The minimal data are within the paper and its Supporting Information. The full data set cannot be shared publicly due to ethic committee law and are available upon request, and the deidentified datasets are currently available from the Medical Oncology Unit at the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Funding: This research was funded by the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University. (MED-2564-08326, CoV6/2565). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
