Current outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection in high-risk haematological patients treated early with antivirals.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe the clinical outcomes and duration of viral shedding in high-risk patients with haematological malignancies hospitalized with COVID-19 during Omicron variant predominance who received early treatment with antivirals. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study on high-risk haematological patients admitted in our hospital between December 2021 and March 2022. We performed detection techniques on viral subgenomic mRNAs until negative results were obtained to document active, prolonged viral replication. RESULTS: This analysis included 60 consecutive adults with high-risk haematological malignancies and COVID-19. All of these patients underwent early treatment with remdesivir. Thirty-two (53%) patients received combined antiviral strategies, with sotrovimab or hyperimmune plasma being added to remdesivir. The median length of viral replication-as measured by real-time RT-PCR and/or subgenomic RNA detection-was 20 (IQR 14-28) days. Prolonged viral replication (6 weeks after diagnosis) was documented in six (10%) patients. Only two patients had prolonged infection for more than 2 months. Overall mortality was 5%, whereas COVID-19-related mortality was 0%. CONCLUSIONS: Current outcomes of high-risk patients with haematological malignancies hospitalized with COVID-19 during Omicron variant predminance are good with the use of early antiviral strategies. Persistent viral shedding is uncommon.

Real-World Data on Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia: Clinical and Molecular Characteristics, Treatment, Emerging Drugs, and Patient Outcomes.

Despite emerging molecular information on chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), patient outcome remains unsatisfactory and little is known about the transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In a single-center cohort of 219 CMML patients, we explored the potential correlation between clinical features, gene mutations, and treatment regimens with overall survival (OS) and clonal evolution into AML. The most commonly detected mutations were TET2, SRSF2, ASXL1, and RUNX1. Median OS was 34 months and varied according to age, cytogenetic risk, FAB, CPSS and CPSS-Mol categories, and number of gene mutations. Hypomethylating agents were administered to 37 patients, 18 of whom responded. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) was performed in 22 patients. Two-year OS after alloSCT was 60.6%. Six patients received targeted therapy with IDH or FLT3 inhibitors, three of whom attained a long-lasting response. AML transformation occurred in 53 patients and the analysis of paired samples showed changes in gene mutation status. Our real-world data emphasize that the outcome of CMML patients is still unsatisfactory and alloSCT remains the only potentially curative treatment. However, targeted therapies show promise in patients with specific gene mutations. Complete molecular characterization can help to improve risk stratification, understand transformation, and personalize therapy.

Outcomes of patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia treated with non-curative therapies: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Approval of hypomethylating agents in patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia is based on trials done in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. We aimed to investigate whether hypomethylating agents provide a benefit in subgroups of patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia compared with other treatments. METHODS: For this retrospective cohort study, data were retrieved between Nov 30, 2017, and Jan 5, 2019, from 38 centres in the USA and Europe. We included non-selected, consecutive patients diagnosed with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia, who received chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia-directed therapy. Patients with acute myeloid leukaemia according to 2016 WHO criteria at initial diagnosis (ie, ≥20% blasts in the bone marrow or peripheral blood) or with unavailability of treatment data were excluded. Outcomes assessed included overall survival, time to next treatment, and time to transformation to acute myeloid leukaemia. Analyses were adjusted by age, sex, platelet count, and Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia-Specific Prognostic Scoring System (CPSS). Patients were grouped by first received treatment with either hydroxyurea, hypomethylating agents, or intensive chemotherapy, and stratified by risk according to blast count, French-American-British subtype, CPSS, WHO 2016 subtype, and the eligibility criteria of the DACOTA trial (NCT02214407). FINDINGS: 949 patients diagnosed with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia between April 13, 1981, and Oct 26, 2018, were included. Median follow-up was 23·4 months (IQR 11·5-42·3) from diagnosis and 16·2 months (6·6-31·6) from start of first-line treatment. 412 (43%) of 949 patients received hypomethylating agents as first treatment, 391 (41%) hydroxyurea, and 83 (9%) intensive chemotherapy. Adjusted median overall survival for patients treated with hydroxyurea versus hypomethylating agents was 15·6 months (95% CI 13·1-17·3) versus 20·7 months (17·9-23·4); hazard ratio (HR) 1·39 (1·17-1·65; p=0·0002) and 14·0 months (9·8-17·2) versus 20·7 months (17·9-23·4; HR 1·55 [1·16-2·05]; p=0·0027) for those treated with intensive chemotherapy versus hypomethylating agents. In patients with myeloproliferative chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (myeloproliferative CMML), median overall survival was 12·6 months (10·7-15·0) versus 17·6 months (14·8-21·5; HR 1·38 [1·12-1·70]; p=0·0027) for patients treated with hydroxyurea versus hypomethylating agents, and 12·3 months (8·4-16·6) versus 17·6 months (14·8-21·5; HR 1·44 [1·02-2·03]; p=0·040) for intensive chemotherapy versus hypomethylating agents. Hypomethylating agents did not confer an overall survival advantage for patients classified as having lower-risk disease (ie, myelodysplastic chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia with <10% blasts, CMML-0, or lower-risk CPSS). INTERPRETATION: These data suggest hypomethylating agents as the preferred therapy for patients with higher-risk chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia and those with myeloproliferative CMML. Our findings also suggest that CPSS is a valuable tool to identify patients who are most likely to benefit from hypomethylating agents. Further evidence from prospective cohorts would be desirable. FUNDING: The Austrian Group for Medical Tumor Therapy.