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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.

Background: Mexico and Central America have a high incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adolescents and young adults (AYA). Chemotherapy with Hyper-CVAD has been widely used with poor outcomes, with a 3-year overall survival (OS) of 25.7% in this group of age. In low-and middle-income countries (LMIC), limitations in supportive care such as low access to neutrophil stimulant agents, antifungal prophylaxis and limited intensive care access, may increase treatment-related mortality. On the other hand, reports suggest that specific high-risk subgroups may be more frequent in Hispanic patients from Mexico and Central America. We hypothesize that the use of a less-myeloablative regimen, based on L-asparaginase could overcome the bad outcomes previously reported. Methods We modified the original CALGB 10403 based on local drug-access. We include patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia-negative B- or T-cell ALL between 14-49 years from 4 centers in Mexico and one in Guatemala. We modified the regimen as following: replaced pegaspargase by E. Coli asparaginase, thioguanine by 6-mercapatopurine and incorporate rituximab 375mg/m2 for 6 doses in CD20 positive patients. After the first interim analysis (October 2019), we replaced the prednisone by dexamethasone during induction. Minimal residual disease (MRD) was assessed by flow cytometry after induction and after first consolidation. We considered high-risk karyotype if MLL-rearrangements, complex or hypodiploid and high-white blood cell count (WBC) if &gt;30 x10 3/mcL for B-ALL or &gt;100 x10 3/mcL for T-ALL. The main objective was to evaluate OS and as secondary objectives to evaluate complete response (CR) rate, relapse-free survival (RFS) and to assess the safety of this regimen. Results From January 2017 to December 2020, 95 patients have been enrolled with a median age of 23 years (range 14-49). One third (34.6%) had overweight and 11.7% were obese. The majority (92.6%) had a B-cell ALL and a normal karyotype (81.2%). The median WBC was 18.4 x10 3/mcL (0.2-427.7) and 40.9% had a high-WBC. During induction, adverse events (AE) included grade 3/4 elevated bilirubin (21.1%), transaminases (14.7%), hyperglycemia (14.7%), hypofibrinogenemia (44.2%), thrombosis (10.5%), hypersensitivity (2.2%) and pancreatitis (2.1%). During consolidation, AE included grade 3/4 hepatic toxicity (18.9%), hypertriglyceridemia (14.8%), thrombosis (5.3%) and pancreatitis (2.1%). Neutropenic fever occurred in 55.8% during induction (grade 4: 31.5%), and in 32.9% during consolidation (grade 4/5: 5.3%). A dose adjustment due to AE was required in 22.1% during induction and in 23.2% during consolidation. The induction related-mortality (IRM) rate was 7.4% The CR rate was 87.8%. After-induction, MRD was &lt;0.01% in 39.1%, 0.01-0.1% in 39.1% and &gt; 0.1% in 24.6%. Post-consolidation MRD was only measured in 43 patients and was &lt;0.01% in 37.2%. During follow-up, 26.7% relapsed: 62.5% bone marrow (BM) relapses, 25.0% central nervous system (CNS) relapses and 12.5% CNS + BM relapses. Eight patients (8.4%) received an allogeneic-stem cell transplant (HSCT) as consolidation. The 2-year OS was 72.1%. The post-induction MRD &lt;0.1% was associated with a better OS (figure 1A) (HR: 0.17 (95%CI: 0.06-0.55), p=0.003) and a high-WBC with an inferior OS (figure 1B) (HR: 4.13 (95%CI: 1.68-10.14), p=0.002). The 2-year RFS was 65.2%. The post-induction MRD &lt;0.1% was associate with a better RFS (figure 1C) (HR: 0.19 (95%CI: 0.07-0.50), p=0.001) and a high-WBC and overweight / obesity with an inferior RFS (HR: 4.08 (95%CI: 1.71-9.73), p=0.001 and 2.50 (95%CI: 1.06-5.86), p=0.036 respectively) (figure 1D). Conclusions: The adoption of modified CALGB10403 regimen in Central America based on local resources is feasible. It is associated with a significant improvement in the OS and decrease in IRM when compared with previous reports. Despite a very high-rate of hepatic and metabolic toxicities, these were manageable. As reported by other groups, MRD, high-WBC and overweight/obesity are associated with poor outcomes. Despite being encouraging results, a significant number of patients persist with positive MRD and the main cause of dead is disease progression. Access to cellular therapies, and BiTes is cost restricted in LMIC. Hence, we should generate strategies to intensify treatment in MRD positive patients and expand transplant access to overcome outcomes. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Rangel-Patiño: Bristol: Consultancy; Abbvie: Speakers Bureau. Ceniceros: Amgen: Speakers Bureau. Espinosa: Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy. Amador: Abbvie: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Bristol: Consultancy. Cabrero Garcia: Takeda: Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Speakers Bureau; Roche: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau; Astellas: Consultancy; BD: Speakers Bureau. Inclan-Alarcon: Janssen: Speakers Bureau; Boehringer: Speakers Bureau. Neme Yunes: Janssen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Bristol: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Bristol: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Speakers Bureau. Meillon-García: Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Speakers Bureau; Astellas: Consultancy. Apodaca: Sanofi: Consultancy; Asofarma: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Speakers Bureau. Demichelis: Bristol/Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Astellas: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy; ASH: Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; AMGEN: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Jazz: Consultancy.

Background Splenectomy is a therapy for patients with treatment‐refractory autoimmune cytopenias. Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) can be identified in 25%–85% of these patients. In this study, we sought to identify whether the presence of aPL was associated with worse outcomes in autoimmune cytopenia's patients who had undergone splenectomy. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent splenectomy from 2000 to 2018. We describe clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with autoimmune cytopenia's diagnosis with positive determinations of aPL. Additionally, we performed a case–control sub‐analysis 1:1 of the cases with autoimmune cytopenia's matched control patients with negative aPL determination. Results A splenectomy was performed in 707 patients, of which we included 34 for the analysis. The median age at the time of splenectomy was 37 years (range 19–61), 53% corresponded to immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and 47% to autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). Compared with controls (n = 34), patients had more treatment lines in addition to steroids (p = .02). There were no differences in complete response rate, 65% in cases and 80% in controls (p = .17). However, there was numerically a higher incidence of early infections (21% of cases vs. 3% controls, p = .05). During the entire follow‐up, 15% of aPL patients compared with 9% of control patients had a thrombotic event (p = .70). Discussion Splenectomy for treatment‐refractory autoimmune cytopenia's patients with persistent aPL is an effective treatment despite some safety concerns related to early infections. These results suggest that the presence of aPL should not impact the decision to undergo splenectomy.

Background: Splenectomy is an effective second line therapy for patients with immune cytopenias. Fifteen percent of patients are going to relapse after splenectomy. These patients are categorized as refractory and their treatment is challenging. The incidence of an accessory spleen diagnosed by gammagraphy is estimated to be 8-20% in this scenario. Current treatment guidelines do not address the issue of searching for an accessory spleen or performing accessory splenectomy as a treatment strategy for these patients. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for the presence of accessory spleen diagnosed by gammagraphy in patients with refractory immune cytopenias and analyze the response rate of its removal. Methods: It is a case control, single center, retrospective study. We included adult patients with refractory immune cytopenias who underwent gammagraphy to search for an accessory spleen, from 1996 to 2016. Cases were patients with a positive gammagraphy, controls were those with a negative gammagraphy. Patients who failed to have at least one year of follow-up after splenectomy or accessory splenectomy, were excluded. A logistic regression was performed to determine factors associated with the presence of an accessory spleen. Results: We analyzed 71 refractory patients with a gammagraphy performed searching for an accessory spleen, 87.3% with a diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenia (IT), 7% autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AHA) and 5.6% Evans Syndrome. Fourteen percent of the patients had secondary immune cytopenias all of them due to autoimmune diseases. There was a predominance of women with 74.6% of the subjects studied. Patients received a median of 2 (0-4) lines of treatment before the splenectomy. The majority of patients (98.6%) had received, as first line of treatment corticosteroids, with an overall response rate (ORR) of 84% and a complete response (CR) rate of 38.6%. Of the 71 patients, splenectomy achieved an ORR of 83.1% with CR in 80.3%. The incidence of accessory spleen diagnosed by gammagraphy at their relapse was 15.5% (11 patients). In the multivariate analysis, we found two factors associated with positivity of the gammagraphy: CR to corticosteroids pre-splenectomy with an OR of 5.2 (CI 95% 1.24-21.78; p=0.021) and the presence of Howell Jolly bodies (HJb) with an OR of 0.088 (CI95% 0.02-0.37; p=0.001) as a protective factor. We developed a risk score consisting of: 0 risk factors, 1 risk factor (CR to corticosterois pre-splenectomy or abscense of HJb) and 2 risk factors. The percentage of patients who were positive by gammagraphy using this score was 83.3%, 25.6% and 3% for 2, 1 and no risk factors respectively (p&lt;0.001) (Figure1). Eight patients underwent accesory splenectomy, all of them achieved responses with CR of 87.5%, and none experienced complications associated with the procedure. Seven patients acquired the presence of HJb after accesory splenectomy (Table 1). With a median follow-up of 60.2 months (1.54-194.56), 62.5% mantained the response obtained with the accesory splenectomy. One patient didn´t acquire HJb post accesory splenectomy, he relapsed and was diagnosed with a new accesory spleen. He underwent a second accesory splenectomy and is now in CR with the presence of HJb in the blood smear. Conclusions: The search for an accesory spleen in patients with refractory immune cytopenias with risk factors (absence of Howell Jolly bodies and or complete response to steroids as first line therapy) is usefull. Accesory splenectomy is a safe and effective therapeutic strategy in the treatment of these patients. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Introduction: "Philadelphia like" ALL has been related to poor prognosis. CRLF2 over-expression (cytokine receptor like factor-2) has been found in up to 50% of patients with Philadelphia-like ALL and its expression can be measured by Flow Cytometry (FC). CRLF2 over-expression is more common in Hispanic population (45-68%) however, there is no current recommendation in using it as a prognostic marker. Objectives: Find the prevalence of CRLF2 overexpression measured by FC, in adult Mexican patients with treatment-naïve ALL Describe the outcomes of the patients who over-expressed CRLF2 by Complete Response (CR), Minimal Residual Disease (MRD), Leukemia-Free Survivale (LFS) and Overall Survival (OS). Methodology: This is a retrospective cohort study in adults with newly diagnosed ALL from two reference centers in Mexico City. We measured CRLF2 expression by FC in fresh bone marrow samples from treatment-naïve patients at one location; to define over-expression, samples were first analyzed by two different experts who grouped the cases in over-expression or no overexpression using Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI) between two populations, blasts and controls (normal B cells). Outcomes were compared using chi-square test for binary variables and log-rank test for time-to-event variables with a p value &lt;0.05 as significant. Results: From April 2018 to January 2020 46 patients with treatment-naïve B-cell ALL were evaluable; the median age was 29.5 years, 38 (82.6%) were Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA), 22 (47.8%) had leukocytosis, 15 (53.5%) of the evaluable karyotypes, were assigned to high-risk group. The median time of follow-up was 24.5 months and 19 (41.3%) patients were positive for CRLF2-overexpression. For the follow-up cohort all of the patients were evaluable for outcomes. CNS disease was detectable in 11(24.5%) patients which was higher in CRLF2-overexpresed patients (15.5% vs 8.9%, p=0.015). We found no difference in Complete Remission (CR) in CRLF2 status but a high tendency for R/R (Relapse/Refractory) disease (83.3% in CRLF2-overexpression vs 60% in CRLF2 negative group; p=0.09) and dead (63.2% in CRLF2-overexpression vs 37% in CRLF2 negative group; p=0.07). MRD1, 2 and 3 (1=after induction, 2= week 16 and 3= before maintenance) was significantly worse in patients with CRLF2 overexpression (1=15.8% vs 58.3%, p&lt;0.01; 2=7.1% vs 52.6%, p&lt;0.01; 3=0% vs 55.6%, p&lt;0.05). Overall Survival was significantly worse in patients with CRLF2 overexpression (Median Not Reached vs 11.05 months; p=0.04) (Figure 1); Disease-Free Survival (DFS) had a tendency towards worse outcome in patients with CRLF2 overexpression (18.48 vs 5.82 months, p=0.07) (Figure 2). Conclusion: Survival in patients who have CRLF2 overexpression is significantly worse when measured by FC, this might be related to early high-risk markers as MRD. CRLF2 overexpression in this hispanic sample was higher (41%) than other reports. CRLF2 measured as a prognostic factor by FC needs to be further considered due to the high availability of this technique across Latin-America. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Rangel-Patiño: Abbvie: Speakers Bureau; Bristol: Consultancy. Espinosa: Pfizer: Consultancy; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy. Demichelis: Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Consultancy; Bristol/Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Jazz: Consultancy; ASH: Research Funding; Astellas: Consultancy; AMGEN: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau.

Background: Patients with COVID-19 have an increased risk of thromboembolic disease, this has been partly attributed to an excessive inflammatory response that is associated with hypercoagulability; patients develop thrombotic complications with rates of 6.4% in non-critically ill and 15 to 31 % in critically ill patients. With this data some clinicians have incorporated thromboprophylaxis with higher dose heparin into the management of this patients, to date there´s no information of the effect of this intervention. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort, including consecutive critical and non-critical adults admitted to a referral center in Mexico City, between March 18 and May 19, all with a positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV 2. Conventional coagulation test results were collected on admission and during hospitalization; use of anticoagulation, and patient outcomes were recorded, all patients had been discharged at the time of the final analysis. Thromboprophylaxis was administered according to institutional recommendations and individual medical criteria, we defined anticoagulant dose according to each medication. We compared the basal characteristics and outcomes in critical and non-critical patients. We evaluated the factors associated with thrombosis, bleeding, and mortality using the Cox Regression Model. Results: We evaluated 447 consecutive hospitalized patients with COVID-19, median age was 50 years (range,18-91), 62.6 % were male, 111 (24.8%) were critical. At admission 156 patients (34.9%) had D-dimer values above 3000 ng/mL, median fibrinogen was 651 mg/dL (range 130-1095), APTT was prolonged (&gt; 3 seconds) in 179 patients (40%), and INR &gt;1.2 in 26 patients (5.8%), median platelet value 215 X103/uL (range 33-666). Thromboprophylaxis' dosages were prophylactic in 267 (59.7%), intermediate in 75 (16.8%) and therapeutic in 91 (20.4%), 14 patients (3.1%) did not receive any medical thromboprophylaxis and 26 patients (5.8%) received aspirin during hospitalization. According to the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis' criteria (ISTH criteria) 40 patients (8.9%) had overt-DIC, sepsis induced coagulopathy (SIC) was present in 28 patients (6.3%), and high risk for bleeding by IMPROVE score ≥7 points was found in 5 patients (1.1%). Overall thrombotic event (TE) was confirmed in five patients (1.1%), arterial thrombosis events in 0.4%, one stroke and one acute myocardial infarction; radiographically confirmed venous thrombosis in 0.67%, two with pulmonary embolism (PE) and one with deep venous thrombosis (DVT). The TE were more common in critical than in non-critical patients (3.6% vs 0.3%). The number of CT pulmonary angiogram or duplex ultrasounds performed when PE/DVT was suspected was eighteen (4%), eight (47%) non-critically ill and ten (53%) in the ICU; the rate of radiographically positive results was 22.2%. The overall major bleeding rate was 2.5%, of these 91% were in the ICU. Mortality was 23.5% in the cohort. Table 1. No factors were found to be associated with thrombosis. The factors associated with bleeding were an INR &gt;1.2 (HR 9.0, 95% CI 1.2-67.3, p 0.03), IMPROVE score ≥7 (HR 81.3, 95% CI 11.9-555.6, p &lt; 0.01), and mechanical ventilation (HR 33.1, 95% CI 4.1-262.2, p 0.01). Factors associated with mortality were: age &gt;70 (HR 2.5, 95% CI 1.5-4.2, p &lt;0.01), D-Dimer &gt;3000 ng/mL (HR 2.0,95% CI 1.2-3.4, p &lt;0.01), and mechanical ventilation (HR 1.7, 95% CI 1.01-2.8, p = 0.02). The presence of more than 450x109/L platelets was associated with reduced mortality (HR 0.31 95% CI 0.19-0.50). Figure 1 Discussion: The late outbreak of COVID-19 in Latin America had led to an empiric use of aggressive thromboprophylaxis. Our data shows a low TE rate as compared with other groups, nevertheless we cannot prove a direct impact of the aggressive thromboprophylaxis, firstly because of the low rate or events, and secondly, due to the limitations of an observational study. On the other hand, the incidence of PE/DVT is conditioned by the number of studies performed, yet radiological confirmation has proven difficult due to concerns about virus exposure. Regarding the security of the intervention, major bleeding rates were slightly higher to what has been otherwise reported, but with no bleeding related deaths. The benefit of higher anticoagulant doses most be shown in clinical trials before we can recommend their generalized use in COVID-19 patients. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) represents 51% of acute leukemias in adults in Mexico. Poor outcomes have been reported, with a 3-year overall survival (OS) of 25.7% in the group of adolescents and young adults (AYA). In ALL, Hispanic ethnicity has been associated with more high-risk features and more treatment-related toxicity. Recently the results of the pediatric-inspired regimen CALGB 10403 in AYA ALL-patients have been published with encouraging results. We modified the original regimen based on the drug-access in Mexico and we incorporate Rituximab in CD20 positive patients. Methods We included patients with newly diagnosed B- or T-cell ALL between 17 and 45 years. Patients with Philadelphia chromosome-ALL were excluded. We enrolled patients from 4 centers in Mexico. We replicated the CALGB 10403 protocol, with the following modifications: replaced pegaspargase (2,500 IU/m2) with E. Coli asparaginase (6,000 IU/m2/day for 6 doses in alternate days). During the delayed intensification we replaced thioguanine 60mg/m2/day with 6-mercapatopurine 60mg/m2/day. We incorporated rituximab 375mg/m2 at D1 and D29 during remission consolidation, D1 and D21 in interim maintenance and D1, D29 and D50 in delayed intensification. The central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis was given as a triple-drug (methotrexate 12.5mg, cytarabine 60mg and dexamethasone 8mg), with a total of 11 intratecal administrations, 7 during the induction/consolidation courses and 4 during maintenance. Minimal residual disease (MRD) was assessed by flow cytometry after induction and after first consolidation. The aims of this study were to evaluate complete response (CR) rate, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and to assess the safety of this regimen. Result From January 2017 to May 2019 thirty-eight patients (23 men, 15 women) have been enrolled. Median follow-up is 11 months (range 1-30). Median age is 23 years (range 18-41). The 100% of patients are of Hispanic ethnicity. Obesity (BMI≥30) was reported in 18%. Thirty patients had an evaluable karyotype: 83% were normal, and 13% with MLL-rearrangements. The majority were B-cell ALL (90%), and 10% were T-cell ALL. Median WBC was 19.5 x103/mcL (range: 0.7-427.7) and 32% had hyperleukocytosis. Among the B-cell ALL patients, 53% were CD20 positive. CNS disease was presented at diagnosis in only one patient (3%). Thirty-three patients (86%) achieved CR, thirty (81%) after the first induction and three after the extended induction therapy. There was only one death during induction therapy (2.6%). After induction, 41% had negative MRD (&lt;0.01%). Grade 3 /4 hepatic toxicity was reported in 58% patients, hyperglycemia in 24% and hypertriglyceridemia in 34%. The rest of toxicities are summarized in Table 1. During induction ten patients (19%) required dose adjustment because of toxicity. During consolidation, 42% required treatment modifications because of toxicity. After induction, we had no treatment-related mortality. At the last follow-up twenty-three patients continue in the protocol. Four patients already received Allo-SCT. The relapse-rate is 31.2% with half of these patients with CNS-disease at relapse. Nine patients have died: one during induction, six with progression or refractory disease and one after Allo-SCT. The 18-months PFS and OS rates were 80% and 84%, respectively. Median PFS is 23 months (CI 95% 17 to 29 months), and median OS was not been reached. Negative-MRD after induction was associated with excellent outcomes: 18-months OS 100% vs. 45.3%, p=0.008 (figure 1). Obesity was associated with worse OS (18-month 22% vs. 80%, p=0.03) and PFS (22% vs. 79.1%, p=0.026) Conclusion: Mexican patients treated with a modified CALGB 10403 protocol had similar response rates than reported in the original protocol but with more toxicity, mainly hepatic and metabolic. However, induction-related mortality was low and we had no treatment-related toxicity after induction. We presume that the high-rate of toxicities can be related with the genetic and environmental metabolic risk factors plenty described in our population. The modified CALGB showed encouraging results in this Hispanic population, hence we have to explore lower dose schedule based in patient characteristics and asparaginase levels. Disclosures Neme Yunes: Abbvie: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Speakers Bureau. Demichelis:Abbvie: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Speakers Bureau; AMGEN: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Shire: Speakers Bureau.