ABSTRACT
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic afects everyday life, hospital infrastructures and cancer care worldwide and in Germany. While current infection rates nationwide are decreasing, a continuous long-term infection rate is expected until vaccine development. First data from China suggested that cancer patients are particularly susceptible and at higher risk of a severe course of the disease. Despite more data being available now, many open questions remain regarding the course of COVID-19 in cancer patients and the impact of cancer treatment. To prospectively address these questions, we initiated a multicentric, observational trial including cancer patients with COVID-19 in the Hamburg metropolitan region and parts of Schleswig-Holstein. Method(s): Patients with diagnosis of cancer and COVID-19, who were treated in the University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCCH), its contracted partner network or at the University Cancer Centers Kiel and Lubeck are included into the trial, which was initiated in April 2020. Data are collected as available from routine clinical care and include demographic and biometric data, medical history, baseline infection data at inclusion as well as inpatient and intensive care unit admissions. Upon consent, patients provide peripheral blood samples for a prospective biobanking with the aim of investigating immune response, immunity and predictive outcome markers. Recruitment is planned for a one-year period. Result(s): As of June 30th 2020, 17 patients of which 13 were male were included afer signing informed consent. Median age was 64 years. 12 of the 17 patients had hematologic disease, mostly acute leukemia. Two patients had solid tumors and three patients had both hematologic and solid malignancy. In 71 % of included patients COVID-infection was diagnosed while being hospitalized due to their oncologic disease. Five patients required mechanical ventilation in the course of disease, one patient died due to the infection. Updated data will be presented at the meeting. Conclusion(s): The prospective registrational COVIDHELP trial will continuously include patients with malignant diseases and COVID-19 during the current pandemic. Our analysis will help to better understand the clinical course, potential impact of intrinsic and extrinsic factors as well as immune response to COVID-19 infection in cancer patients and thus facilitate clinical decision making concerning therapy discontinuation and identifcation of subgroups at specific risk.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Patients with hematological malignancies and concomitant SARS-CoV-2 infection suffer from a more severe course of their infection than patients without underlying concomitant disease. Similar observations have been made for concomitant influenza infections. The aim of this retrospective study is to compare the clinical courses of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza in patients with hematological malignancies. Methods: In this retrospective, single center analysis all patients with hematological malignancies aged 18 years and older were included with a laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 or influenza A or B infection who were admitted or were already under treatment at the Department of Oncology and Hematology or at the Department of Stem Cell Transplantation at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany, between January 2012 and January 2021. Primary and secondary endpoints of this study are the rate of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and virus-associated 30- and 90-day mortalities. The retrospective data collection was performed in accordance with local legal requirements and was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical Council of Hamburg. Results: A total of 79 patients were included in this study. 29 patients had laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and 50 patients had influenza A or B infection. 69% in the COVID-19 group and 68% in the influenza group were male. Median age in the COVID-19 group were 59 years vs 58.5 years in the influenza group. Distribution of hematological malignancies in the COVID-19 group was as follows: 59% had acute leukemia (AL), 24% malignant lymphoma, 14% multiple myeloma (MM) and 3% myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). 89% of the patients with concomitant SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis were currently under treatment with chemotherapy, CD20 or CD38 antibody-therapy, underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) or received CAR-T-cells shortly before (< 2 months) or during SARS-CoV-2 positivity. In the influenza group, 60% had AL, 8% lymphoma, 24% MM and 8% MDS or myeloproliferative neoplasm. 84% of these patients were under treatment with chemotherapy, CD33-, CD38- or SLAMF7-directed antibodies or underwent allogeneic SCT shortly before or during infection with seasonal influenza. At the time of infection, 41% of all SARS-CoV-2 positive patients were in refractory or relapsed setting compared to 42% in the influenza group whereas 28% in the COVID-19 and 36% in the influenza cohort were in complete remission. At the time of SARS-CoV-2 detection 38% of patients had grade IV neutropenia (defined as neutrophil count <0.5 x 10 9/L) with a median duration of 3.5 days which is comparable to 33% of patients and a median neutropenia duration of three days in the influenza group. The incidence of ARDS was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group compared to the influenza group (48% vs. 14%, p = 0.001). Furthermore, virus infection related 30-day and 90-day mortality was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group (28% vs. 8%, p = 0.026 and 41% vs. 12%, p = 0.005). In the COVID-19 group, a duration of aplasia ≥ 7 days had no negative impact on 90-day mortality or development of an ARDS (p = 0.599 and 0.982 respectively) whereas in the patients infected with influenza A or B, an aplasia ≥ 7 days had a negative impact on 90-day mortality and development of ARDS (p < 0.001 each). Conclusion: Based on our results, we conclude that comparable to the general population, infections with SARS-CoV-2 result in a significantly higher rate of ARDS and a significantly higher 30- and 90-day mortality compared to influenza A or B infections in patients with underlying hematological malignancies. Disclosures: Weisel: Adaptive: Consultancy, Honoraria;Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria;Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria;Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria;Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria;Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Resear h Funding. Bokemeyer: Gilead Sciences: Research Funding;Bayer Schering Pharma: Consultancy;Merck Serono: Consultancy, Other: Travel accomodation;AOK Health insurance: Consultancy;Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding;Agile Therapeutics: Research Funding;ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding;Abbvie: Research Funding;GSO: Consultancy;Lilly/ImClone: Consultancy;Amgen: Research Funding;Apellis Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding;Astellas: Research Funding;BerGenBio: Research Funding;Blueprint Medicine: Research Funding;Boehringer Ingelheim: Research Funding;Celgene: Research Funding;Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding;Eisai: Research Funding;Gylcotope GmbH: Research Funding;GlaxoSmithKline: Research Funding;Inside: Research Funding;IO Biotech: Research Funding;Isofol Medical: Research Funding;Janssen-Cilag: Research Funding;Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel accomodation;Merck KGaA: Honoraria;Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding;Merck Sharp Dohme: Consultancy, Honoraria;AstraZeneca: Honoraria, Research Funding;BMS: Honoraria, Other: Travel accomodation, Research Funding;Bayer: Honoraria, Research Funding;Karyopharm Therapeutics: Research Funding;Lilly: Research Funding;Millenium: Research Funding;MSD: Research Funding;Nektar: Research Funding;Rafael Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding;Springworks Therapeutics: Research Funding;Taiho Pharmaceutical: Research Funding;Pfizer: Other. Fiedler: Novartis: Honoraria;Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Daiichi Sanyko: Consultancy, Other: Meeting attendance, Preparation of information material;Stemline: Consultancy;Servier: Consultancy, Other: Meeting attendance, Preparation of information material;MorphoSys: Consultancy, Honoraria;Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Meeting attendance, Preparation of information material;Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria;Ariad/Incyte: Honoraria;Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Meeting attendance, Preparation of information material, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding;Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Meeting attendance, Preparation of information material. Modemann: Teva: Other: Travel accomodation;Novartis: Other: Travel accomodation;Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Other: Travel accomodation;Gilead: Other: Travel accomodation;Incyte: Other: Travel accomodation;Servier: Honoraria, Other: Travel accomodation;Pfizer: Other: Travel accomodation;Amgen: Other: Travel accomodation;Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding;Abbvie: Honoraria, Other: Travel accomodation.
ABSTRACT
Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is driven by aberrant leukemic stem cells (LSCs) that initiate and sustain malignancy. To circumvent resistance to therapy, combination therapies with additive mechanisms of action are needed. CD70, a tumor necrosis factor receptor ligand, and its receptor CD27 are expressed on LSCs and AML blasts, but not on hematopoietic stem cells. Cusatuzumab, a high-affinity humanized monoclonal anti-CD70 antibody, kills CD70-expressing cells by Fc domain-mediated effector functions and is a potent inhibitor of CD70-CD27 signaling. Here we report initial results of a study of cusatuzumab in combination with the current standard of care therapy, venetoclax plus azacitidine (CVA), in patients with untreated AML (de novo or secondary) ineligible for intensive chemotherapy due to age ≥75 years or medical comorbidities. Methods: The primary objective of this open label, multicenter, phase 1b study was to assess safety and tolerability of CVA. Key secondary objectives included response rate per ELN 2017 criteria and time to response. Patients received cusatuzumab 10 or 20 mg/kg IV on Day 3 and Day 17, a 3-day ramp-up of venetoclax (100, 200, and 400 mg PO) followed by 400 mg daily dosing, and azacitidine 75 mg/m 2 SC or IV on Days 1-7 of each 28-day cycle. Results: Based on data through Jul 9, 2021, 44 patients enrolled with median age 75 years (range 32-89), 36.4% had secondary AML, 40.9% had an ECOG performance status of 2, and ELN risk was favorable, intermediate and adverse in 18.2%, 20.5% and 61.4%, respectively. All patients received 20 mg/kg cusatuzumab except for 3 patients who received a starting dose of 10 mg/kg with the option to escalate to 20 mg/kg. Of these 3 patients, 1 escalated to 20 mg/kg. At a median follow-up of 29.1 weeks, the median number of treatment cycles was 4.0 (range 1.0-11.0). Grade 3 or above TEAEs were reported in 97.7% of patients;the most common (reported in ≥10%) were neutropenia (68.2%), thrombocytopenia (65.9%), febrile neutropenia (36.4%), anemia (34.1%), leukopenia (29.5%), sepsis (27.3%), and lymphopenia (15.9%). Treatment-emergent serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported in 75% of patients;the most common (reported in at least ≥5%) were febrile neutropenia (27.3%), sepsis (22.7%), COVID-19 (6.8%), and thrombocytopenia (6.8%). Treatment-emergent SAEs of grade ≥3 were reported in 72.7% of the patients. Infusion-related reactions (IRRs) were reported for 11.4% of patients with 2.3% at grade ≥3. Six (13.6%) patients discontinued treatment due to AEs, and 5 (11.4%) TEAEs resulted in death. The mortality rate within 30 days from start of treatment was 4.5%. Table 1 summarizes best response to study treatment. In the intent-to-treat analysis set (n=44) complete remission (CR) rate was 45.5%, while CR + CR with partial hematologic recovery (CRh) + CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi) was 77.3%;MLFS was observed in 11.4% of patients. Of 34 responders (defined as CR, CRi or CRh), 47% were MRD negative by flow cytometry at or after achievement of response. Median time to first response for patients who achieved CR, CRh or CRi was 4.21 (3.0-25.0) weeks. Best response rates in the post-hoc response evaluable analysis set (n=42) that excluded two patients who died before the first disease evaluation were: CR in 47.6%, CR + CRh + CRi in 81.0% and MLFS in 11.9% of patients (Table 1). The majority (97.1%) of responders experienced at least one cycle delay in administration of CVA post response. Conclusions: Cusatuzumab administered in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine to elderly patients with untreated AML was generally well tolerated and demonstrated a safety profile consistent with that previously reported with venetoclax-azacitidine, with the addition of generally manageable IRRs. Response rates support an additive effect of cusatuzumab to the standard of care with potential for improved clinical outcomes. However, further clinical trials are needed for validation of these initial results. HK and GB contributed equally to this publ cation. [Formula presented] Disclosures: Roboz: AstraZeneca: Consultancy;Janssen: Research Funding;Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy;Jasper Therapeutics: Consultancy;Agios: Consultancy;Novartis: Consultancy;Amgen: Consultancy;Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy;Janssen: Consultancy;Helsinn: Consultancy;Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy;Glaxo SmithKline: Consultancy;Celgene: Consultancy;Jazz: Consultancy;MEI Pharma - IDMC Chair: Consultancy;Mesoblast: Consultancy;Actinium: Consultancy;AbbVie: Consultancy;Astex: Consultancy;Bayer: Consultancy;Astellas: Consultancy;Roche/Genentech: Consultancy;Pfizer: Consultancy;Otsuka: Consultancy. Aribi: Seagen: Consultancy. Brandwein: Astellas: Honoraria;Jazz: Honoraria;Amgen: Honoraria;Taiho: Honoraria;BMS/Celgene: Honoraria;Pfizer: Honoraria;Abbvie: Honoraria;University of Alberta: Current Employment. Döhner: Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria;Berlin-Chemie: Consultancy, Honoraria;Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;GEMoaB: Consultancy, Honoraria;Helsinn: Consultancy, Honoraria;Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria;Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Oxford Biomedicals: Consultancy, Honoraria;Pfizer: Research Funding;Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria;Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria;Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Astex: Consultancy, Honoraria;Ulm University Hospital: Current Employment. Fiedler: Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Other: support for meeting attendance;Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria;Morphosys: Consultancy;Celgene: Consultancy;Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding;Novartis: Consultancy;ARIAD/Incyte: Consultancy;Amgen: Consultancy, Other: support for meeting attendance, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding;Servier: Consultancy, Other: support for meeting attendance;Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Other: support for meeting attendance;Stemline: Consultancy. Gandini: argenx: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Divested equity in a private or publicly-traded company in the past 24 months. Geddes: University of Calgary: Current Employment;Taiho: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Jazz: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Pfizer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Novartis: Consultancy;BMS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Amgen: Consultancy;Paladin: Consultancy;Janssen: Research Funding;Geron: Research Funding;Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Hou: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Centers: Current Employment;AbbVie: Honoraria;AstraZeneca: Honoraria;Karyopharm: Honoraria;Chinese American Hematology Oncology Network: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Howes: Janssen R&D, part of Johnson & Johnson: Current Employment;Johnson & Johnson: Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Hultberg: argenx: Current Employment, Patents & Royalties. Huselton: University of Rochester: Current Employment. Jacobs: Argenx BV: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company;University of Antwerp: Ended employment in the past 24 months. Kane: Janssen R&D, part of Johnson & Johnson: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Lech-Marańda: Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors r advisory committees;Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Janssen-Cilag: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Louwers: argenx: Current Employment, Patents & Royalties: Patents (no royalties). Nottage: Janssen R&D, part of Johnson & Johnson: Current Employment;Johnson & Johnson: Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Platzbecker: Novartis: Honoraria;AbbVie: Honoraria;Janssen: Honoraria;Celgene/BMS: Honoraria;Geron: Honoraria;Takeda: Honoraria. Rampal: Pharmaessentia: Consultancy;BMS/Celgene: Consultancy;Abbvie: Consultancy;Sierra Oncology: Consultancy;Incyte: Consultancy, Research Funding;Blueprint: Consultancy;Disc Medicine: Consultancy;Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy;Constellation: Research Funding;Kartos: Consultancy;Stemline: Consultancy, Research Funding;CTI: Consultancy;Novartis: Consultancy;Memorial Sloan Kettering: Current Employment. Salman: Janssen: Current Employment, Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Shah: Janssen R&D, part of Johnson & Johnson: Current Employment. Stuart: Clinical Drug Development Consultants LLC: Current Employment;Argenx: Consultancy;Cleave Therapeutics: Consultancy;Triphase Accelerator Corp: Consultancy;IgM Biosciences: Consultancy;Revolution Medicines: Consultancy;Jiya Corp:Consultancy;Geron Corp: Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company. Subklewe: Janssen: Consultancy;Pfizer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau;Takeda: Speakers Bureau;Klinikum der Universität München: Current Employment;MorphoSys: Research Funding;Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;Roche: Research Funding;Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding;Miltenyi: Research Funding;Gilead: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Sumbul: argenx: Current Employment. Wang: Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory board;Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board;Astellas: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Stemline Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau;AbbVie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Kite Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board;GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board;Genentech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;BMS/Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;DAVA Oncology: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau;Kura Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory board, steering committee, Speakers Bureau;Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board;Mana Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria;Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board, Speakers Bureau;Rafael Pharmaceuticals: Other: Data safety monitoring committee;Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory board;Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory board;PTC Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory board;Genentech: Consultancy;MacroGenics: Consultancy. Wierzbowska: Jazz: Research Funding;Pfizer: Honoraria;Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Astellas: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory comm ttees;Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;BMS: Honoraria. Yao: Statagize LLC: Current Employment;Puma Biotechnology, Inc.: Ended employment in the past 24 months;Argenx: Consultancy. Yee: Astex: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Janssen: Research Funding;TaiHo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Otsuka: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Onconova: Research Funding;Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Tolero: Research Funding;Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Paladin: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;MedImmune: Research Funding;AbbVie: Honoraria;Bristol-Myers Squibb/Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Shattuck Labs: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Forma Therapeutics: Research Funding;Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Geron: Research Funding;Genentech: Research Funding;F. Hoffmann La Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Jazz: Research Funding. Kantarjian: Immunogen: Research Funding;Astra Zeneca: Honoraria;KAHR Medical Ltd: Honoraria;Astellas Health: Honoraria;Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding;NOVA Research: Honoraria;Ascentage: Research Funding;Precision Biosciences: Honoraria;Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding;Aptitude Health: Honoraria;Ipsen Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria;Jazz: Research Funding;Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding;BMS: Research Funding;Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding;AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding;Taiho Pharmaceutical Canada: Honoraria. Borthakur: Protagonist: Consultancy;Ryvu: Research Funding;Astex: Research Funding;GSK: Consultancy;Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center: Current Employment;ArgenX: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.
ABSTRACT
Background: Patients with acute leukemia and concomitant SARSCoV- 2 infection suffer from a more severe course of their infection than patients without underlying disease including a higher admission rate to ICU and a higher death rate. Similar observations have been made for concomitant influenza infections. Aims: The aim of this study is to compare the clinical courses of COVID- 19 and seasonal influenza in patients with acute leukemia (AL). This could help to find evidence for certain therapy modifications in AL patients with COVID-19 based on long lasting experience in patients with AL and influenza. Methods: This is a retrospective single center analysis including all patients with AL and concomitant influenza or SARS-CoV-2 infection who were treated in the department of oncology and hematology of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany, between February 2013 until now. Data of the clinical course were collected from the patient's electronic medical records. Statistical analysis was performed by using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 26. Results: In the Influenza-group (n = 21), 71 % were male, the median age was 58 years (r: 20-81). 17 patients (81%) had acute myeloid leukemia (AML), four patients (19%) had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). 29% had newly diagnosed AL at influenza infection, 33% were in complete remission and 38% were under treatment due to refractory or relapsed disease. 95% were currently under chemotherapy treatment at diagnosis of influenza, 80% of them were treated with intensive chemotherapy. Median duration of aplasia was six days (r: 0-38), five patients had no aplasia during influenza infection. 18 patients were treated with Oseltamivir. 15 patients had an Influenza A with ten cases of H1N1, six patients had an Influenza B. The distribution in the COVID-19 group (n = 15) was similar: 73% were male, the median age was 59 years (r: 21-76). Nine patients (60%) had AML, six (40%) had ALL or acute lymphoblastic lymphoma. 27% had first diagnosis of AL, 27% were in complete remission, 46% had relapsed or refractory disease. All patients were under chemotherapy during SARS-CoV-2 positivity, 80% were treated with intensive chemotherapy protocols. Duration of aplasia during SARS-CoV-2 positivity was 0-36 days (median: 10 days), four patients had no aplasia. With 67% compared to 38% in the influenza group, we scored significantly more critical and severe courses in the COVID-19 group (p = 0.042, Mann Whitney U test) according to WHO-grading. We observed higher rates of pneumonia (93% vs. 67%) in COVID-19 patients with a rate of 40% of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in the COVID-19 group compared to 19% of ARDS in the influenza-group. Rate of death due to COVID-19 after 90 days was 20% compared to influenza-associated deaths of 14%. Regardless of the type of infection (SARS-CoV-2 or influenza), we could show that a long aplasia duration is an adverse prognostic marker for 90-days mortality due to COVID-19 or influenza (p = 0.016, Mann Whitney U test). Summary/Conclusion: Patients with acute leukemia and concomitant SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis present with more severe clinical courses than patients with concomitant influenza, even though the rates of ARDS and critical disease of patients with AL and influenza are high. Therapy regimes with expected long duration aplasia should be possibly avoided in both patient cohorts due to higher mortality in patients with late regeneration of the blood count.