NCI COVID-19 in Cancer Patients Study (NCCAPS)
NCCAPS is a natural history study for people who have COVID-19 and are getting treatment for cancer.
What is the NCI COVID-19 in Cancer Patients Study (NCCAPS)?
The NCI COVID-19 in Cancer Patients Study, or NCCAPS, is a natural history study of COVID-19 in people with cancer. In a natural history study, researchers follow people and collect medical information about them over time to learn more about how a disease and its symptoms develop and change. Diagnosis and treatment of a disease are not part of natural history studies.
For the NCCAPS study, researchers are collecting blood samples, medical information, and medical images from nearly 1,800 people with cancer who also had COVID-19. Each person will be followed for up to 2 years.
The knowledge gained through this study will help doctors better manage treatment for people with cancer and COVID-19 in the future. It will also help doctors understand how COVID-19 and cancer affect one another.
Why study COVID-19 in people with cancer?
Some people who have cancer, especially those who are receiving treatment for cancer, may be more likely to have severe illness from COVID-19. Researchers are doing this study so they can learn more about COVID-19 in people with cancer, both during their illness with COVID-19 and after they recover from it. This study will allow researchers to
- learn more about the risk factors related to serious illness from COVID-19 in people who are receiving treatment for cancer
- study how COVID-19 affects cancer treatment and the results of the treatment
- find genetic risk factors and markers of serious illness from COVID-19 in people with cancer
- create a bank of data, blood samples, and images from people with COVID-19 and cancer for future research
What happens to the information collected in this study?
NCCAPS researchers are collecting medical information, blood, and images such as X-rays or CT scans for up to 2 years. Sometimes people will need to answer questions about symptoms or side effects. Other information will be gathered from medical records.
The medical information and test results are stored in a database. Along with blood samples and images, this information can be shared with researchers for future use. To protect the privacy of people in the study, names and other personal information are not stored with medical information and samples.
Future research that may involve the samples and medical information includes studies of genes, antibodies, blood proteins, and immune cells that may help researchers understand the differences in serious illness caused by COVID-19 in people with cancer.
Trial collaborators
NCCAPS is supported by the National Cancer Institute. The following NCI clinical trial networks are taking part in this study
- NCI Experimental Therapeutics Clinical Trials Network (ETCTN)
- NCI National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN)
- NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP)
NCI worked with experts, scientists, and patient advocates inside and outside these networks to design and conduct this study.