BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There is scarce information about pediatric lymphoblastic lymphoma (LLy) in low and middle-income countries. We describe the clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome of a cohort of children and adolescents with LLy in Latin America (LA). METHODS: Retrospective study analyzing pediatric patients with LLy in 10 institutions of the St. Jude Global Alliance from nine LA countries between 2007 and 2017. RESULTS: One-hundred and twenty-six patients were included. Sixty (47.6%) had T-LLy, 49 (38.9%) B-LLy and in 17 (13.5%) the immunophenotype was unknown. Ninety-seven (77%) presented with stage III/IV disease, and 42 (33.3%) in critical conditions. In 30 cases (23.8%), the results of pathology diagnosis exceeded 15 days from biopsy, and 23 patients (18%) required a review at another institution. The EFS and OS at 5 years were 73% (SE 0.047) and 78% (SE 0.0435), respectively. Five-year abandonment-sensitive EFS and OS were 65% (SE 0.0477) and 70% (SE 0.0459), respectively. Events included relapse/progression (n=22), refractory disease (n =1) abandonment (n=11), induction death (n=4), death in complete remission (n=4), and second malignancies (n=1). CONCLUSIONS: A balanced proportion of LLy-T and B phenotypes was observed. Diagnosis was a challenge. Most of the patients presented with high-risk disease, and many in critical conditions. Toxic deaths and abandonment represented nearly half of the events. Improvements in diagnosis, supportive measures and follow up are imperative to improve the outcomes of pediatric LLy in Latin America.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic strained medical systems worldwide. We report on the impact on pediatric oncology care in Latin American (LATAM) during its first year. Four cross-sectional surveys were electronically distributed among pediatric onco-hematologist in April/June/October 2020, and April/2021 through the Latin American Society of Pediatric Oncology (SLAOP) email list and St Jude Global regional partners. 453 pediatric onco-hematologists from 20 countries responded the first survey with subsequent surveys response rates above 85%. More than 95% of participants reported that treatment continued without interruption for new and active on-going patients, though with disruptions in treatment availability. During the first three surveys, respondents reported suspensions of outpatient procedures (54.2%), a decrease in oncologic surgeries (43.6%), radiotherapy (28.4%), stem cell transplants (SCT) (69.3%), and surveillance consultations (81.2%). Logistic regression analysis showed that at the beginning of the first wave, participants from countries with healthcare expenditure below 7% were more likely to report a decrease in outpatient procedures (OR:1.84, 95%C:1.19;2.8), surgeries (OR:3, 95%CI:1.9;4.6) and radiotherapy (OR:6, 95%CI:3.5;10.4). Suspension of surveillance consultations was higher in countries with COVID-19 case fatality rates above 2% (OR:3, 95%CI:1.4;6.2) and SCT suspensions in countries with COVID-19 incidence rate above 100 cases per 100,000 (OR:3.48, 95%CI:1.6;7.45). Paradoxically, at the beginning of the second wave with COVID-19 cases rising exponentially, most participants reported improvements in cancer services availability. Our data show the medium-term collateral effects of the pandemic on pediatric oncology care in LATAM, which might help delineate oncology care delivery amid current and future challenges posed by the pandemic.