Introduction
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), resulting from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) appears to affect children less severely than adults with majority of benign forms and asymptomatic cases[1]. High mortality rate have been recently reported in adult patients with cancer[2, 3]. Data is still limited in children with cancer while some reports suggested that they may be quite safe regarding the infection[4–6]. Although recommendations were initially made by the major child cancer organizations, new challenges have emerged[7, 8]. A better description of the disease and its associated clinical and logistical challenges is available. As a result, pediatric oncology departments around the world can develop appropriate strategies[9].
To characterize clinical presentation and outcomes of children, adolescent and young adults with cancer and infected by SARS-CoV-2, the French society of pediatric oncology (Société Française de lutte contre les Cancers et leucémies de l’Enfant et de l’adolescent - SFCE) initiated a study (PEDONCOVID) to retrospectively and prospectively collect data regarding COVID-19 in this specific population. France has been so far one of the most affected countries with currently a total of 188.450 cases and 28.943 deaths[10]. We describe here the detailed data of 37 patients enrolled in French pediatric oncology centers from the SFCE.