Cracking the code of a correlate of protection against SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection in cancer patients
The level of protection against SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections conferred by the presence of anti-S1 SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (IgGs) in cancer patients is still understudied. This work examines the existence of an anti-S1 immunoglobulin G (IgG) -based correlate of protection (CoP) established by prospectively collected observational data about breakthrough infections with different SARS-CoV-2 variants in a large cohort study with vaccinated cancer patients. 760 cancer patients were longitudinally followed-up, starting before first vaccination until six months after second booster. Anti-S1 SARS-CoV-2 IgGs were quantified in serum samples (N = 2958) and breakthrough infections were monitored using questionnaires, routine COVID-19 testing and medical chart review. A Generalized Estimating Equations approach was used to model the binary infection status as endpoint in relation to anti-S1 IgG titers. It is observed that higher anti-S1 IgG titers correspond to a lower probability of breakthrough infection. For the early pandemic phase, a protective anti-S1 IgG titer above 20.42 BAU/mL was observed. However, with the emergence of the Omicron variant, higher anti-S1 IgG titers are required to be protective, but no clear CoP could be identified.
Authors
- Ann De Becker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0947-8708)
- Peter A. van Dam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9184-7703)
- Christof Vulsteke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4607-5660)
- Sébastien Anguille (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1951-6715)
- Marc Peeters (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4969-2303)
- Willem Lybaert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9657-2502)
- M. Hanssens (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4705-8735)
- Lieselot Croes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3104-6151)
- Niel Hens (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1881-0637)
- Yana Debie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3994-4968)
- Greetje Vanhoutte (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2171-7954)
- Irene Garcia-Fogeda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0120-3083)
- Hilde Jansens (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9578-428X)
- Timon Vandamme (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3701-5305)
- Hans Prenen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8802-7352)
- Maria E. Goossens (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7128-1354)
- Lander Willem (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9210-1196)
- Steven Abrams (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7353-9304)
- Wim Demey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2254-9216)
- Lise Verbruggen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1358-6405)
- Ella Roelant (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9902-6328)
- Annelies Janssens
- Johan Van Ongeval
- Alain Bols
Institutions
- University of Antwerp (BE)
- AZ Groeninge (BE)
- AZ Klina (BE)
- Antwerp University Hospital (BE)
- AZ Sint-Jan (BE)
- Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (BE)
- AZ Maria Middelares (BE)
- Sciensano (Belgium) (BE)
- AZ Sint-Lucas (BE)
- Hasselt University (BE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Published
- 2025-03-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92254-8
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.40
Funders
- Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
- Kom op tegen Kanker