A Single-Institution Retrospective Series of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Adult Glioma Patients

Abstract

A subset of cancer patients is particularly vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection; however, real-world outcomes-based data on primary central nervous system tumor patients is sparse. This retrospective series describes a cohort of adult glioma patients seen at Stanford Cancer Center between January 1, 2020, and June 30, 2022 who contracted SARS-CoV-2, which, to our knowledge, currently represents the largest single-institution comprehensive analysis of this patient population. We performed a retrospective search of patients seen in the Stanford Neuro-Oncology clinic, identifying 29 cases of COVID-19 amongst glioma patients and extracted clinical data via individual chart review. At the time of COVID-19 diagnosis, 15 patients had been vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, 8 patients were taking dexamethasone, and 8 were undergoing cancer-specific treatment. Obesity, prior tobacco use, and diabetes were the most common comorbidities. Cough, sore throat, and congestion were the most common symptoms. Five patients were admitted to the hospital and two received COVID-19-specific treatment. None died from COVID-related causes or complications. Our data suggest that glioma patients seen at Stanford Cancer Center do not experience an exceptionally high COVID-19 infectivity, hospitalization, or mortality rate, especially when compared to other vulnerable populations such as lung cancer patients. High vaccination rates, adherence to COVID-19 guidelines, and low prevalence of comorbidities may have contributed to these results.