Ring, A., Marx, G., Steer, C., & Harper, P. (2002). Influenza vaccination and chemotherapy: A shot in the dark? Supportive Care in Cancer, 10, 462–465.
To evaluate influenza vaccination in patients with cancer
DATABASES USED: PubMed from 1992–2002, using influenza, vaccination, immunization, cancer, and malignancy as search terms; no restrictions were placed on the language of the publications. Additional data were acquired by direct communication with vaccine manufacturers.
FINAL NUMBER STUDIES INCLUDED = 11 studies measuring seroconversion after influenza vaccination
KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: No comments existed regarding the research design of the studies, but five studies included a control group.
Seroconversion rates following influenza vaccination ranged from 10%–78% in patients with cancer as compared with 56%–94% in healthy controls. Seroconversion rates following influenza vaccination ranged from 37%–52% in patients with cancer on chemotherapy as compared with 76%–92% of patients with cancer not receiving chemotherapy. One study of 42 adult patients with hematologic or oncologic disorders found that the seroconversion rate following influenza vaccination was 50% if the vaccine was given at the time of chemotherapy, compared with 93% if the vaccine was given between cycles.