OBJECTIVE: Development of severe disease and death from COVID-19 is more frequent in patients with comorbidities . Some studies report an increased frequency of severe COVID-19 in cancer patients . This review aims to describe the risk of infection and developing severe COVID-19 in cancer patients . MATERIALS AND

METHODS: A systematic review was carried out through an exhaustive search of literature in PubMed and Scopus until May 2020 . A secondary search was performed to include more studies .

RESULTS: The initial search identified 2,192 records, which included 17 publications with at least 10 infected cancer patients . Also , 5 articles were added from the additional search of the references cited by those 17 publications . Ten publications were from Chinese authors . Data analysis showed that COVID-19 infection is more frequent in cancer patients, and frequent therapeutic visits to the healthcare facility may be the cause . The presence of neoplasia predisposed patients to develop severe disease . Advanced age, associated comorbidities, advanced malignancy, and the presence of serum inflammatory markers increased the risk of developing severe disease . Initial studies indicate that the use of systemic treatment may also be a predisposing factor .

CONCLUSIONS: The risk of becoming infected by COVID-19 and developing severe disease is higher in the oncological population.