mRNA COVID-19 vaccines induce superior immunoglobulin A titers in patients with cancer compared with viral vector vaccines: implications for immunization strategies

Objectives: Immunoglobulin (Ig) A antibodies are involved in mucosal immunity and eliminate pathogens immediately at the point of entry. Vaccine-induced IgA antibodies could contribute to an additional layer of protection against SARS-CoV-2 for infection-prone patients with cancer. This might be par...

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Main Authors: Yana Debie, Lise Verbruggen, Marc Peeters, Peter A. van Dam, Timon Vandamme
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:International Journal of Infectious Diseases
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971225001638
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author Yana Debie
Lise Verbruggen
Marc Peeters
Peter A. van Dam
Timon Vandamme
author_facet Yana Debie
Lise Verbruggen
Marc Peeters
Peter A. van Dam
Timon Vandamme
author_sort Yana Debie
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: Immunoglobulin (Ig) A antibodies are involved in mucosal immunity and eliminate pathogens immediately at the point of entry. Vaccine-induced IgA antibodies could contribute to an additional layer of protection against SARS-CoV-2 for infection-prone patients with cancer. This might be particularly relevant for patients with cancer because they mount reduced IgG antibody titers after dual-dose BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination and even lower responses after double-dose ChAdOx1 vaccination than healthy individuals. However, data on vaccine-induced IgA antibodies are scarce, especially in patients with cancer. Methods: This study compares SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike (S1) IgA antibodies after dual-dose BNT162b2 vs ChAdOx1 vaccination in patients with cancer. SARS-CoV-2 anti-S1 IgA antibodies were quantified in serum samples collected 7 days after the second vaccination dose (N = 213) (IEQ-CoVS1RBD-IgA-1-RB enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, RayBiotech) and analyzed with colorimetric detection. In addition, correlations with different aspects of humoral immunity were assessed (neutralizing and IgG antibodies). Results: Significantly lower anti-S1 IgA antibody titers were reported in patients with cancer after dual-dose ChAdOx1 than BNT162b2 vaccination. Moreover, patients with cancer who received dual-dose BNT162b2 vaccination had a significant 16.44-fold increased chance to mount detectable IgA antibodies compared with patients receiving ChAdOx1 vaccination. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential role of boosters or alternative strategies to sustain mucosal immunity.
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spelling doaj-art-1edfb95348124696aed2d70565f5127f2025-08-20T03:57:31ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases1201-97122025-09-0115810793910.1016/j.ijid.2025.107939mRNA COVID-19 vaccines induce superior immunoglobulin A titers in patients with cancer compared with viral vector vaccines: implications for immunization strategiesYana Debie0Lise Verbruggen1Marc Peeters2Peter A. van Dam3Timon Vandamme4Center for Oncological Research (CORE), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Belgium; Multidisciplinary Oncological Centre Antwerp (MOCA), Antwerp University Hospital, Drie Eikenstraat, Edegem, BelgiumMultidisciplinary Oncological Centre Antwerp (MOCA), Antwerp University Hospital, Drie Eikenstraat, Edegem, BelgiumCenter for Oncological Research (CORE), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, BelgiumCenter for Oncological Research (CORE), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Belgium; Multidisciplinary Oncological Centre Antwerp (MOCA), Antwerp University Hospital, Drie Eikenstraat, Edegem, BelgiumCenter for Oncological Research (CORE), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Belgium; Multidisciplinary Oncological Centre Antwerp (MOCA), Antwerp University Hospital, Drie Eikenstraat, Edegem, Belgium; Corresponding author: (T. Vandamme); Tel.: +323 821 21 11.Objectives: Immunoglobulin (Ig) A antibodies are involved in mucosal immunity and eliminate pathogens immediately at the point of entry. Vaccine-induced IgA antibodies could contribute to an additional layer of protection against SARS-CoV-2 for infection-prone patients with cancer. This might be particularly relevant for patients with cancer because they mount reduced IgG antibody titers after dual-dose BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination and even lower responses after double-dose ChAdOx1 vaccination than healthy individuals. However, data on vaccine-induced IgA antibodies are scarce, especially in patients with cancer. Methods: This study compares SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike (S1) IgA antibodies after dual-dose BNT162b2 vs ChAdOx1 vaccination in patients with cancer. SARS-CoV-2 anti-S1 IgA antibodies were quantified in serum samples collected 7 days after the second vaccination dose (N = 213) (IEQ-CoVS1RBD-IgA-1-RB enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, RayBiotech) and analyzed with colorimetric detection. In addition, correlations with different aspects of humoral immunity were assessed (neutralizing and IgG antibodies). Results: Significantly lower anti-S1 IgA antibody titers were reported in patients with cancer after dual-dose ChAdOx1 than BNT162b2 vaccination. Moreover, patients with cancer who received dual-dose BNT162b2 vaccination had a significant 16.44-fold increased chance to mount detectable IgA antibodies compared with patients receiving ChAdOx1 vaccination. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential role of boosters or alternative strategies to sustain mucosal immunity.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971225001638SARS-CoV-2COVID-19 vaccinationIgA antibodiesPatients with cancer
spellingShingle Yana Debie
Lise Verbruggen
Marc Peeters
Peter A. van Dam
Timon Vandamme
mRNA COVID-19 vaccines induce superior immunoglobulin A titers in patients with cancer compared with viral vector vaccines: implications for immunization strategies
International Journal of Infectious Diseases
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19 vaccination
IgA antibodies
Patients with cancer
title mRNA COVID-19 vaccines induce superior immunoglobulin A titers in patients with cancer compared with viral vector vaccines: implications for immunization strategies
title_full mRNA COVID-19 vaccines induce superior immunoglobulin A titers in patients with cancer compared with viral vector vaccines: implications for immunization strategies
title_fullStr mRNA COVID-19 vaccines induce superior immunoglobulin A titers in patients with cancer compared with viral vector vaccines: implications for immunization strategies
title_full_unstemmed mRNA COVID-19 vaccines induce superior immunoglobulin A titers in patients with cancer compared with viral vector vaccines: implications for immunization strategies
title_short mRNA COVID-19 vaccines induce superior immunoglobulin A titers in patients with cancer compared with viral vector vaccines: implications for immunization strategies
title_sort mrna covid 19 vaccines induce superior immunoglobulin a titers in patients with cancer compared with viral vector vaccines implications for immunization strategies
topic SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19 vaccination
IgA antibodies
Patients with cancer
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971225001638
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