@article{Gurion_Rozovski_Itchaki_Gafter-Gvili_Leibovitch_Raanani_Ben-Zvi_Szwarcwort_Taylor-Abigadol_Dann_Horesh_Inbar_Tzoran_Lavi_Fineman_Ringelstein-Harlev_Horowitz_2022, place={Pavia, Italy}, title={Humoral serological response to the BNT162b2 vaccine is abrogated in lymphoma patients within the first 12 months following treatment with anti-CD2O antibodies}, volume={107}, url={https://haematologica.org/article/view/haematol.2021.279216}, DOI={10.3324/haematol.2021.279216}, abstractNote={<p>Patients with lymphoma, especially those treated with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, suffer high COVID-19-associated morbidity and mortality. The goal of this study was to assess the ability of lymphoma patients to generate a sufficient humoral response after two injections of BNT162b2 Pfizer vaccine and to identify factors influencing the response. Antibody titers were measured with the SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant (Abbott ) assay in blood samples drawn from lymphoma patients 4 2 weeks after the second dose of vaccine. The cutoff for a positive response was set at 50 AU/mL. Positive serological responses were observed in 51% of the 162 patients enrolled in this cross-sectional study. In a multivariate analysis, an interval of &lt;12 months between the last anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody dose and the second vaccine dose (odds ratio=31.3 [95% confidence interval: 8.4-116.9], P&lt;0.001) and presence of active lymphoma (odds ratio=4.2 (95% confidence interval: 2.1- 8.2), P=0.006) were identified as negative response predictors. The rate of seropositivity increased from 3% in patients vaccinated within 45 days after the last monoclonal antibody administration to 80% in patients vaccinated &gt;1 year after this therapy. The latter percentage was equal to that of patients never exposed to monoclonal antibodies. In conclusion, lymphoma patients, especially those recently treated with anti- CD20 monoclonal antibodies, fail to develop sufficient humoral response to BNT162b2 vaccine. While a serological response is not the only predictor of immunity, its low level could make this population more vulnerable to COVID-19, which implies the need for a different vaccination schedule for such patients.</p&gt;}, number={3}, journal={Haematologica}, author={Gurion, Ronit and Rozovski, Uri and Itchaki, Gilad and Gafter-Gvili, Anat and Leibovitch, Chiya and Raanani, Pia and Ben-Zvi, Haim and Szwarcwort, Moran and Taylor-Abigadol, Mor and Dann, Eldad J. and Horesh, Nurit and Inbar, Tsofia and Tzoran, Inna and Lavi, Noa and Fineman, Riva and Ringelstein-Harlev, Shimrit and Horowitz, Netanel A.}, year={2022}, month={Mar.}, pages={715-720} }