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Background. R-CHOP can cure approximately 75% of patients with primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMLBCL), but prognostic factors have not been sufficiently evaluated yet. Rda-EPOCH is potentially more effective but also more toxic than R-CHOP. Reliable prognostic classification is needed to guide treatment decisions.Materials and Methods. We analyzed the impact of clinical prognostic factors on the outcome of 332 PMLBCL patients ≤65 years treated with R-CHOP AE radiotherapy in a multicenter setting in Greece and Cyprus. Results. With a median follow-up of 69 months, 5-year freedom from progression (FFP) was 78% and 5-year

Background. Although the SARS-CoV-2 virus is transmitted mainly through the respiratory tract, possible transmission by transfusion from asymptomatic carriers should be explored. As yet there are no reports of transfusion transmission of COVID-19. Haemovigilance findings within a three-month surveillance period during the new coronavirus pandemic are presented. Materials and methods. Due to great demand and shortage, blood sessions in outpatient facilities were organized during the high prevalence period of COVID-19, alongside a national plan to monitor the evolving public health situation by random molecular screening of high-risk groups of the population. Haemovigilance protocols were implemented as well as surveillance for any COVID-19 case reported post-transfusion. A 14-day quarantine and follow-up molecular and antibody testing of any COVID-19 positive case was obligatory. Results. Post-donation, post-transfusion information and molecular testing of swab samples collected from three asymptomatic donors at risk for COVID-19, revealed the case of an immunosupressed patient who had been transfused with whole blood derived platelets from a donor subsequently diagnosed with COVID-19. The recipient exhibited no symptoms of the disease. Molecular and antibody testing results were negative. Conclusion. Haemovigilance provided information supporting the absence of transfusion transmission of COVID-19, thus strengthening the hypothesis that, even if it cannot yet be definitively ruled out, COVID-19 is not transmitted through blood transfusion. As of early June 2020, a perfect test does not exist, therefore haemovigilance along with the implementation of strict proactive measures is crucial to identify eluding asymptomatic individuals and ensure blood safety during the pandemic.

0.21), stage III/ IV (17% vs 12%), any extranodal involvement (27% vs 43%, p = 0.11), any serositis (49% vs 46%), bulky disease (71% vs 75%), LDH levels >twice normal (>2x; 41% vs 39%), anemia (48% vs 42%), leukocytosis ≥10x10 9 /L (31% vs 27%), ESR ≥30 mm/h (78% vs 79%), albumin <4 g/ dL (49% vs 45%), age-adjusted IPI (aaIPI) ≥2 (39% vs 38%) (all p-values >0.40, unless otherwise stated). Among R-CHOP-treated patients 10/43 had treatment failure compared to 5/52 for R-da-EPOCH. One R-da-EPOCH patient developed early-onset acute leukemia with t(9;11) and was counted as event in event-free survival (EFS) analysis. The 2-year freedom from progression (FFP) was 89% vs 77% (p = 0.22), while the 2-year EFS was 86% vs 77% (p = 0.35). With 5 deaths recorded (4 in R-CHOP vs 1 in R-da-EPOCH; all disease related), the 3-year overall survival (OS) was 96% vs 90% (p = 0.27). Among R-CHOP-treated patients, 5 did not receive RT due to chemorefractory disease; 29/38 potentially eligible patients (76%) received RT. Among 46 R-da-EP-OCH-treated patients who had completed final resonse assessment, 5 did not receive RT due to chemorefractory disease; only 6/41 potentially eligible patients (15%) received RT (p < 0.001).