Ruxolitinib as a treatment strategy for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia: clinical experience in a real-world setting.

INTRODUCTION: Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection is characterised by a viral phase and a severe pro-inflammatory phase. The inhibition of the JAK/STAT pathway limits the pro-inflammatory state in moderate to severe COVID-19. METHODOLOGY: We analysed the data obtained by an observational cohort of patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia treated with ruxolitinib in 22 hospitals of Mexico. The applied dose was determined based on physician's criteria. The benefit of ruxolitinib was evaluated using the 8-points ordinal scale developed by the NIH in the ACTT1 trial. Duration of hospital stay, changes in pro-inflammatory laboratory values, mortality, and toxicity were also measured. RESULTS: A total of 287 patients were reported at 22 sites in Mexico from March to June 2020; 80.8% received ruxolitinib 5 mg BID and 19.16% received ruxolitinib 10 mg BID plus standard of care. At beginning of treatment, 223 patients were on oxygen support and 59 on invasive ventilation. The percentage of patients on invasive ventilation was 53% in the 10 mg and 13% in the 5 mg cohort. A statistically significant improvement measured as a reduction by 2 points on the 8-point ordinal scale was described (baseline 5.39 ± 0.93, final 3.67± 2.98, p = 0.0001). There were 74 deaths. Serious adverse events were presented in 6.9% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Ruxolitinib appears to be safe in COVID-19 patients, with clinical benefits observed in terms of decrease in the 8-point ordinal scale and pro-inflammatory state. Further studies must be done to ensure efficacy against mortality.

Treating Acute Leukemia During the COVID-19 Pandemic in an Environment With Limited Resources: A Multicenter Experience in Four Latin American Countries.

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic is a colossal challenge for global health; nonetheless, specific subgroups face considerably higher risks for infection and mortality. Among patients with malignant diseases, those with hematologic neoplasms are at a higher risk for poor outcomes. The objective of this study was to register treatment modifications associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and their short-term consequences in Latin America. METHODS: Multicenter, prospective, observational, cohort study including patients older than 14 years from 14 centers in four countries (Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, and Panama) who had a confirmed diagnosis of acute leukemia, and who were undergoing active treatment since the first COVID-19 case in each country until the cutoff on July 15, 2020. RESULTS: We recruited 635 patients. Treatment modifications because of the COVID-19 pandemic were reported in 40.8% of cases. The main reason for such modifications was logistic issues (55.0%) and the most frequent modification was chemotherapy delay (42.0%). A total of 13.1% patients developed COVID-19 disease, with a mortality of 37.7%. Several factors were identified as independently associated with mortality, including a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (odds ratio 2.38 [95% CI, 1.47 to 3.84]; P < .001), while the use of telemedicine was identified as a protective factor (odds ratio 0.36 [95% CI, 0.18 to 0.82]; P = .014). CONCLUSION: These results highlight the collateral damage of COVID-19 in oncology patients.

Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: There is no epidemiological registry in Mexico. The information about the epidemiology in our country is obtained by these types of studies, such as multicentric studies. A lot of improvements in the survival in non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients had occurred in the last 20 years. The access to treatment in these types of pathology could change the prognostic factors in Mexican Mestizos patients. The primary objective of the study was to learn what the most frequent histological varieties of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Mexico are. The secondary objectives included clinical characteristics, treatments used, treatment response, disease-free survival and overall survival. METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive study of consecutive cases was carried out in 14 hospitals across 14 Mexican states with patients diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma using the World Health Organization (WHO) 2008 criteria. Inclusion criteria included: ≥ 18 years of age, male or female, any clinical stage at diagnosis, who had received any chemotherapy regimen, with a known outcome. Descriptive statistics was performed for all variables, and survival was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves. RESULTS: Totally, 609 patients were enrolled, of which 545 were B-cell lymphomas and 64 were T-cell lymphomas. Median ages were 61 and 50, respectively. B-cell lymphomas were more common in males with 52.1%, and 65.5% of T-cell lymphomas occurred in females. For B-cell lymphomas, the two most frequent histological subtypes were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in 63.9%, followed by follicular lymphoma at 18%. Meanwhile, 50% of T-cell lymphomas were of the T/natural killer (NK) subtype, and 87.1% of the patients received a CHOP-like regimen. Radiotherapy was given to 31% of B-cell Lymphomas and 46.9% of T-cell lymphomas. Overall survival at 9 years was 84.6% for B-cell lymphomas, and 73.4% for T-cell lymphomas. CONCLUSIONS: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma constitutes the most frequent subtype for B-cell lymphomas in Mexico. The most frequent T-cell lymphoma is the NK/T histological subtype.

Mexican Concensus of Multiple Myeloma.

To identify this increasingly common pathology, known as multiple myeloma (MM), it is necessary to refer to the specific factors that characterize it; to this end, the classic criteria known as CRAB (hyperkalemia, renal failure, anemia, and lytic lesions) are available, in which renal failure is one of the most frequent complications. Recently, three indisputable biomarkers have been described for the diagnostic support for MM, which are: more than 10% of clonal plasma cells in bone marrow or, a biopsy that corroborates the presence of a plasmacytoma, light chain ratio ≥ 100 mg/dL and more than one focal lesion on magnetic resonance imaging. A differential diagnosis for plasma cell leukemia, solitary bone plasmacytoma, and extramedullary plasmacytoma should always be considered. Being this an incurable disease, a lot of research has been done regarding its therapeutic management, whose main objective is the disappearance of plasma cells and the patient clinical improvement. Melphalan was the first drug that showed a benefit in 1958 and afterward, with the addition of a steroid as a second drug, it was possible to improve response rates. Subsequently, different molecules were studied, forming multiple combinations, and achieving better rates of overall survival and progression-free survival. Years later, with the arrival of proteasome inhibitors such as bortezomib, and immunomodulators such as thalidomide and lenalidomide, an important turnaround in the disease has been seen, as deeper responses, more prolonged remissions, and improvement in the quality of life of patients have been achieved. This consensus has the purpose of integrating a group of Mexican specialists and promoting the updating of this pathology.

Para identificar una patología cada vez más común, conocida como mieloma múltiple, es necesario hacer alusión de los factores específicos que la caracterizan. Para ello existen los clásicos criterios conocidos como CRAB (hipercalcemia, insuficiencia renal, anemia y lesiones líticas), siendo la insuficiencia renal una de sus complicaciones más frecuentes. Recientemente se han descrito tres biomarcadores indiscutibles para el apoyo diagnóstico del mieloma múltiple, que son: más del 10% de células plasmáticas clonales en medula ósea o biopsia que corrobora la presencia de un plasmocitoma, relación de cadenas ligeras ≥ 100 mg/dl y más de una lesión focal en resonancia magnética. Se debe tomar siempre en cuenta el diagnóstico diferencial con leucemia de células plasmáticas, plasmocitoma óseo solitario y plasmocitoma extramedular. Al ser una enfermedad incurable, se ha investigado mucho en cuanto al manejo terapéutico, el cual tiene como objetivo principal la desaparición de las células plasmáticas y la mejoría clínica del paciente. El primer fármaco que demostró algún beneficio fue el melfalán en el año 1958 y posteriormente al adicionar un esteroide como segundo fármaco se logró mejorar las tasas de respuesta. Después se fueron estudiando diferentes moléculas, con las que se han realizado múltiples combinaciones, alcanzando mejores tasas de supervivencia global y supervivencia libre de progresión. Años más tarde, con la llegada de los inhibidores de proteosoma como el bortezomib, así como de los agentes inmunomoduladores como la talidomida y la lenalidomida, se presenta un giro importante en la enfermedad, ya que se logran respuestas más profundas, periodo de remisiones más prolongadas y mejoría en la calidad de vida de los pacientes. Este consenso tiene la finalidad de integrar a un grupo de especialistas mexicanos y promover la actualización de esta patología.

[Eficacia del tinidazol en la profilaxis terapéutica de la colitis amebiana en pacientes con leucemia aguda de novo que reciben quimioterapia intensiva].

INTRODUCTION: In Mexico, seroprevalence of Entamoeba histolytica is 8.4%. The intestinal amebiasis in patients with acute leukemia of novo, after the start of chemotherapy (CT) in the Hematology Service of the CMN 20 de Noviembre is 12%, even if patients show a negative baseline coprological test. OBJECTIVE: To find out if the administration of tinidazole, in patients with acute leukemia and negative coprological test, at the beginning of the CT, decreases the incidence of amoebic colitis during the induction to remission. METHOD: Prospective and not comparative study. Patients with de novo diagnosis of acute leukemia who initiate induction and initial coprological CT. Tinidazole was indicated, 2 g/day for 5 days in the first week of CT started. They were monitored until the induction was concluded and hematopoietic recovery started. RESULTS: 38 patients, 15 women and 23 men with a mean age of 44 years (16-72), with acute lymphoblastic leukemia 19, myeloblastic 16 and promyelocytic 3. Cases without and with intestinal amebiasis were 35 and 3, respectively. Patients with amebiasis only received tinidazole for 3 days and it was given 2 days after the CT started. CONCLUSION: Tinidazole, in patients with acute de novo leukemia who initiate induction CT, is effective in the prevention of intestinal amebiasis, during the induction stage, if administered at 2 g/day, for five days, starting on day 1 of the CT.

INTRODUCCIÓN: En México la seroprevalencia de la Entamoeba histolytica es del 8.4%. La amebiasis intestinal en pacientes con leucemia aguda de novo posterior al inicio de quimioterapia (QT), en el Servicio de Hematología del CMN 20 de Noviembre, es del 12%, aún si muestran test coprológico negativo basal. OBJETIVO: Averiguar si la administración de tinidazol, en pacientes con leucemia aguda y coprológico negativo, al principio de la QT, disminuye la incidencia de colitis amebiana durante la inducción a la remisión. MÉTODO: Prospectivo y no comparativo. Enfermos con diagnóstico de leucemia aguda de novo que inician QT de inducción y coprológico inicial. Se indicó tinidazol, 2 g/día durante 5 días en la primera semana de comenzada QT. Se vigilaron hasta que la inducción concluyó y se inició la recuperación hematopoyética. RESULTADOS: 38 pacientes, 15 mujeres y 23 hombres con edad media de 44 años (16-72). Con leucemia aguda linfoblástica 19, con mieloblástica 16 y con promielocítica 3. Casos sin y con amebiasis intestinal, 35 y 3, respectivamente. Los pacientes con amebiasis solo recibieron tinidazol durante 3 días y se dio después de 2 días de empezada la QT. CONCLUSIÓN: El tinidazol, en pacientes con leucemia aguda de novo que inician QT de inducción, es efectivo en la prevención de la amebiasis intestinal, durante la etapa de inducción, si se administra a 2 g/día, durante cinco días, a partir del día 1 de la QT.