Key clinical point: Prevalence of positive anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was similar in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) population and general populations in Italy and was not associated with the type of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy or treatment-free remission (TFR) status, thereby reassuring the safe continuation of TKI treatment in patients with CML during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Major finding: The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was comparable in CML (1.95%; 95% CI 1.09-3.46) and general (2.5%) populations in Italy. Positive anti-SARS-CoV-2 serological test was not associated with the type of TKI treatment ( P = .19) or TFR status ( P = .40).
Study details: Findings are from a cross-sectional study including 564 adult patients with CML tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin (Ig)M and/or IgG antibodies.
Disclosures: This study was supported by Fondazione Cariverona (ENACT Project). The authors declared no conflict of interests.
Source: Bonifacio M et al. Cancer Med. 2021 Aug 31. doi: 10.1002/cam4.4179 .