COVID-19 in Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative disorders: a GIMEMA survey

Persons with cancers are more likely to be affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection: it has been estimated that there is an increased risk of 1% [95% CI 0.6–1.7%] compared to 0.1% of normal [95% CI 0–0.12%] [1]. Several controversies on this topic emerged and the real potential risk in different cancer types remains unclear [2, 3]. A cohort study conducted in two Chinese centers in Wuhan on 128 hospitalized hematological cancer patients showed that 13 (10%) of them developed COVID-19 infection. No differences in baseline features were noted between subjects with hematological cancers that developed the infection and patients who did not. Among patients tested positive for COVID-19 (no patients with myeloproliferative disorders reported), the incidence was similar to normal healthcare providers (7%) but the mortality rate was increased to 62% as compared to 0% of these latter category [4]. Recently, the Chinese group of Hubei reported also the prevalence of COVID-19 infection (0.9%) in Philadelphia-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) patients, that resulted ninefold higher than 0.1% reported in normal, but lower if compared to 10% in other hematological malignancies or 7% in healthcare providers [5]. The low rate of COVID-19 infection in CML was recently confirmed in Italy [6]. At present, is still unclear the prevalence of COVID-19 infection in Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative disorders (MPN) and the role of JAK2 inhibitor, ruxolitinib, a drug successfully used in myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera, implicated in modulation and reduction of cytokines release.