Seasonal coronaviruses (HCoVs) are known to contribute to cross-reactive antibody (Ab) responses against SARS-CoV-2. While these responses are predictable due to the high homology between SARS-CoV-2 and other CoVs, the impact of these responses on susceptibility to
SARS-CoV-2 infection in
cancer patients is unclear. To investigate the influence of prior HCoV
infection on anti-SARS-CoV-2 Ab responses among
COVID-19 asymptomatic individuals with
cancer and controls without
cancers, we utilized the VirScan technology in which phage immunoprecipitation and sequencing (
PhIP-seq) of longitudinal plasma samples was performed to investigate high-resolution (i.e.,
epitope level) humoral CoV responses. Despite testing positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 Ab in the plasma, a majority of the participants were asymptomatic for
COVID-19 with no prior history of
COVID-19 diagnosis. Although the magnitudes of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 Ab responses were lower in individuals with
Kaposi sarcoma (KS) compared to non-KS
cancer individuals and those without
cancer, the HCoV Ab repertoire was similar between individuals with and without
cancer independent of age, sex, HIV status, and
chemotherapy. The magnitudes of the anti-spike HCoV responses showed a strong positive association with those of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike in
cancer patients, and only a weak association in non-
cancer patients, suggesting that prior
infection with HCoVs might play a role in limiting
SARS-CoV-2 infection and
COVID-19 disease severity.