• Emerging studies show a worse trend among cancer COVID-19 patients compared to non-cancer COVID-19 patients.

• Other studies also indicate that the percentages of SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe events in cancer patients are not higher compared to the general population. Therefore, ongoing investigation is needed to better understand the comorbidity of COVID-19 and cancer.

• Because the majority of the reports associated with cancer patients with COVID-19 involve cohort studies with a relatively small sample size, limited clinical information, high heterogeneity of tumor stages and cancer types as well as diverse treatments, current understanding of the comorbidities are limited.

• Clinical outcomes and the biological basis for the comorbidity of cancer and COVID-19 remain to be resolved.

• The possibility of COVID-19 recurrence brings a new sense of urgency to develop strategies to optimize the management and care of cancer patients with COVID-19.

• The authors hope to bring attention to the symptoms, prognoses, and treatment options of cancer patients with COVID-19, and to stimulate research into the daunting challenge of addressing COVID-19 and cancer comorbidities.