COVID-19 infection in adult patients with hematological malignancies: a European Hematology Association Survey (EPICOVIDEHA)

Background: Patients with hematological malignancies (HM) are at high risk of mortality from SARS-CoV-2 disease 2019 (COVID-19). A better understanding of risk factors for adverse outcomes may improve clinical management in these patients. We therefore studied baseline characteristics of HM patients developing COVID-19 and analyzed predictors of mortality. Methods: The survey was supported by the Scientific Working Group Infection in Hematology of the European Hematology Association (EHA). Eligible for the analysis were adult patients with HM and laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 observed between March and December 2020. Results: The study sample includes 3801 cases, represented by lymphoproliferative (mainly non-Hodgkin lymphoma n = 1084, myeloma n = 684 and chronic lymphoid leukemia n = 474) and myeloproliferative malignancies (mainly acute myeloid leukemia n = 497 and myelodysplastic syndromes n = 279). Severe/critical COVID-19 was observed in 63.8% of patients (n = 2425). Overall, 2778 (73.1%) of the patients were hospitalized, 689 (18.1%) of whom were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). Overall, 1185 patients (31.2%) died. The primary cause of death was COVID-19 in 688 patients (58.1%), HM in 173 patients (14.6%), and a combination of both COVID-19 and progressing HM in 155 patients (13.1%). Highest mortality was observed in acute myeloid leukemia (199/497, 40%) and myelodysplastic syndromes (118/279, 42.3%). The mortality rate significantly decreased between the first COVID-19 wave (March–May 2020) and the second wave (October–December 2020) (581/1427, 40.7% vs. 439/1773, 24.8%, p value < 0.0001). In the multivariable analysis, age, active malignancy, chronic cardiac disease, liver disease, renal impairment, smoking history, and ICU stay correlated with mortality. Acute myeloid leukemia was a higher mortality risk than lymphoproliferative diseases. Conclusions: This survey confirms that COVID-19 patients with HM are at high risk of lethal complications. However, improved COVID-19 prevention has reduced mortality despite an increase in the number of reported cases.EPICOVIDEHA has received funds from Optics COMMITTM (COVID-19 Unmet Medical Needs and Associated Research Extension) COVID-19 RFP program by GILEAD Science, United States (Project 2020-8223)

Syndrome cytokinique lié à HHV8 mimant un choc septique

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Incidence and risk-factors of CHOP/R-CHOP-related cardiotoxicity in patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

International audienceWHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: The CHOP regimen with rituximab (R-CHOP) remains the standard for chemotherapy in patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin appears to be a key problem in clinical practice. We studied the cardiotoxicity of CHOP/R-CHOP regimen in a retrospective series. The prognostic factors of congestive heart failure (CHF) were investigated, including the impact of empirical cardioprotection by dexrazoxane. METHODS: Patients with an aggressive NHL between 1994 and 2005 were included. Cardiac events were defined as either a decline in resting left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50%, a decline in LVEF of ≥20% from baseline or as clinical evidence of CHF. The risk of cardiotoxicity was explored by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The study included 180 consecutive patients. During the second period of the survey, cardioprotective therapy by dexrazoxane was administered to 45% of patients. The 5-year cumulative risks of cardiac events (29% vs. 8%) and clinical CHF (17% vs. 1*5%) varied significantly between the two periods of study (1994-2000 vs. 2001-2005). In multivariate analysis, use of dexrazoxane (HR = 0*1 [0*01-0*75], P = 0*02) and age < 60 years (HR = 0*4 [0*17-0*9], P = 0*03) appeared as protective factors of cardiac events. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: Our study confirmed the weight of cardiac toxic effect of CHOP ± R regimen. Even if the use of dexrazoxane is highly debatable in curative situations, it may be an effective prevention of cardiotoxicity in aggressive NHL patients

Evidence for anti-tumour effect of allogeneic haematopoietic SCT in cases without sustained donor engraftment.

International audienceRemissions of haematological malignancies have been reported after allo-SCT, despite donor cell rejection, suggesting that sustained allogeneic engraftment is not mandatory to obtain a lasting anti-tumour effect. To evaluate the potential benefit from transient post-allo-SCT alloreactivity, we took advantage of the Société Française de Greffe de Moëlle et Thérapie Cellulaire (SFGM-TC) registry to colligate 14 patients with an efficient and long-lasting allogeneic (GVL) effect after allo-SCT for haematological malignancies, despite transient or absent engraftment. None received a second allogeneic graft after autologous recovery. The median duration of remission after autologous reconstitution was 118 (12-252) months. Although we cannot exclude the possibility that some patients were cured before allo-SCT, this retrospective analysis does strongly suggest that an efficient GVL effect can be observed without sustained donor engraftment, and that the transient presence of donor T cells might be sufficient to induce a powerful GVL effect

Does type of immunosupression influence the course of Covid-19 infection?

International audienceCoronavirus disease 19 (Covid-19) is a new emerging virus responsible for pandemic and death. High blood pressure, diabetes, obesity have been described as poor prognosis factors. Few data have been reported in patient with immunocompromised status (solid tumor, hematological malignancy, rheumatoid conditions or organ transplant). We evaluated the characteristics of patients, including the outcome, with immunodepression hospitalized in Besancon University hospital (East of France). We wanted to identify if a type of immunosupression influences the course of Covid-19. In a cohort of 80 patients with immunosupression (42 solid tumors, 20 hematological malignancy and 18 non neoplastic immunosupression), poor outcomes (Intensive care unit hospitalization and or deaths) was frequent (38%) and tended to be more frequent in patients with hematological malignancy

Outcome and risk factor analysis of molecular subgroups in cytogenetically normal AML treated by allogeneic transplantation

Patients with cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia (CN-AML) can be subdivided by molecular mutations. However, data on the influence of combinations of different aberrations on outcome after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is limited. Therefore, we performed a retrospective registry analysis on 702 adults with CNAML undergoing HSCT in first complete remission (CR). Patients were grouped according to presence or absence of NPM1 mutations (NPM1mut) and FLT3 internal tandem duplications (FLT3-ITD). Double negative patients were evaluated for mutations of the CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α gene (CEBPα). The influence of genotypes on relapse, non-relapse mortality, leukemia-free survival (LFS) and overall survival (OS), and a prognostic classification combining NPM1/FLT3-ITD profile and classical risk factors were calculated. 2y-OS from HSCT was 81±5% in NPM1mut/FLT3wt (n=68), 75±3% in NPM1wt/FLT3wt (n=290), 66±3% in NPM1mut/FLT3-ITD (n=269) and 54±7% in NPM1wt/FLT3-ITD (n=75; p=0.003). Analysis of CEBPα among patients with NPM1wt/FLT3wt revealed excellent results both in patients with CEBPα mut (n=13, 2y-OS:100%), and with a triple negative genotype (n=138, 2y-OS:77±3%). In a Cox-model of predefined factors, older age, presence of FLT3-ITD and >1 course of chemotherapy to reach CR were associated with inferior outcome. 2y-OS/LFS were 88±3%/79±4% in patients without any, 77±2%/73±3% with one, and 53±4%/50±4 with>=2 risk factors (p=0.002 for LFS, p=0.003 for OS). Hence, FLT3-ITD proofed to be the decisive molecular marker for outcome after HSCT for CN-AML in CR1, regardless of NPM1 mutational status, variations of transplant protocols, or development of GvHD. Age, FLT3-ITD and response to induction chemotherapy allow for a prognostic risk classification

Reduced intensity and non-myeloablative allogenic stem cell transplantation from alternative HLA-mismatched donors for Hodgkin's lymphoma: a study by the French Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) following a non-myeloablative (NMA) or reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) is considered a valid approach to treat patients with refractory/relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). When an HLA-matched donor is lacking a graft from a familial haploidentical (HAPLO) donor, a mismatched unrelated donor (MMUD) or cord blood (CB) might be considered. In this retrospective study, we compared the outcome of patients with HL undergoing a RIC or NMA allo-SCT from HAPLO, MMUD or CB. Ninety-eight patients were included. Median follow-up was 31 months for the whole cohort. All patients in the HAPLO group (N = 34) received a T-cell replete allo-SCT after a NMA (FLU-CY-TBI, N = 31, 91%) or a RIC (N = 3, 9%) followed by post-transplant cyclophosphamide. After adjustment for significant covariates, MMUD and CB were associated with significantly lower GvHD-free relapse-free survival (GRFS; hazard ratio (HR) = 2.02, P = 0.03 and HR = 2.43, P = 0.009, respectively) compared with HAPLO donors. In conclusion, higher GRFS was observed in Hodgkin lymphoma patients receiving a RIC or NMA allo-SCT with posttransplant cyclophosphamide from HAPLO donors. Our findings suggest they should be favoured over MMUD and CB in this setting

Nilotinib efficacy and safety as salvage treatment following imatinib intolerance and/or inefficacy in steroid refractory chronic graft-versus-host-disease: A prospective, multicenter, phase II study on behalf of the Francophone Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (SFGM-TC)

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