Dysregulated inflammation in solid tumor malignancy patients shapes polyfunctional antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccination

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Abstract
Solid tumor malignancy (STM) patients experience increased risk of breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection owing to reduced COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity. However, the underlying immunological causes of impaired neutralization remain poorly characterized. Furthermore, non-neutralizing antibody functions can contribute to reduced disease severity but remain understudied within high-risk populations. We dissected polyfunctional antibody responses in STM patients and age-matched controls who received adenoviral vector- or mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine regimens. Elevated inflammatory biomarkers, including agalactosylated IgG, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-18, and an expanded population of CD11c − CD21 − double negative 3 (DN3) B cells were observed in STM patients. These inflammatory biomarkers were associated with impaired neutralization and reduced IgG targeting the antigenically novel receptor binding domain. In contrast, mRNA vaccination induced Fc effector functions that were comparable in patients and controls and were cross-reactive against SARS-CoV-2 variants, supported by robust generation of IgG against the antigenically conserved spike 2 domain in STM patients. These data highlight the resilience of Fc functional antibodies and identify systemic inflammatory biomarkers that may underpin impaired neutralizing antibody responses, suggesting potential avenues for immunomodulation via rational vaccine design.

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