AUTHOR=Kamposioras Konstantinos , Mauri Davide , Papadimitriou Konstantinos , Anthoney Alan , Hindi Nadia , Petricevic Branka , Dambrosio Mario , Valachis Antonis , Kountourakis Pantelis , Kopecky Jindrich , Kuhar Cvetka Grašič , Popovic Lazar , Chilingirova Nataliya P. , Zarkavelis George , de Mello Ramon Andrade , Plavetić Natalija Dedić , Christopoulos Christos , Mostert Bianca , Goffin John R. , Tzachanis Dimitiros , Saraireh Haytham Hamed , Ma Fei , Pavese Ida , Tolia Maria 

TITLE=Synthesis of Recommendations From 25 Countries and 31 Oncology Societies: How to Navigate Through Covid-19 Labyrinth

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2020.575148

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2020.575148

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=Introduction: Pandemic COVID-19 is an unexpected challenge for the oncological community, indicating potential detrimental effects on cancer patients. Our aim was to summarize the converging key points providing a general guidance in order to support decision making, pertaining to the oncologic care in the middle of a global outbreak.
Methods: We did an international online search in twenty five countries that have managed a surge in cancer patient numbers. We collected the recommendations from thirty one medical oncology societies. 
Results: By synthesizing guidelines for a) oncology service delivery adjustments, b) general and specific treatment adaptations and c) discrepancies from guidelines comparison, we present a clinical synopsis with the forty more crucial statements.  A Covid-19 risk stratification base was also created in order to obtain a quick, objective patient assessment and a risk-benefit evaluation on a case-by-case basis. 
Conclusions: In an attempt to face these complex needs and due to limited understanding of COVID-19, a variability of recommendations based on general epidemiological and infectious disease principles rather than definite cancer-related evidence has evolved. Additionally, the absence of an effective treatment or vaccine requires the development of cancer management guidance, capitalizing on comprehensive COVID-19 oncology experience globally.