Treatment strategies for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: past, present, and future

Rajni Sinha1, Loretta J Nastoupil2, Christopher R Flowers11Department of Hematology/Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, 2Department of Hematology and Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USAAbstract: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most commonly occurring lymphoma in the Western world. DLBCLs are clinically, biologically, and pathologically heterogeneous with biologically distinct subtypes that have different expected treatment outcomes. The addition of rituximab to combination chemotherapy has improved outcomes for all patients with DLBCL and can cure the disease in certain individuals. Relapsed DLBCL is generally managed with salvage chemoimmunotherapy followed by high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation, which can cure additional patients. However, outcomes for patients who relapse early after upfront rituximab and chemotherapy are poor. Novel therapies and strategies are desperately needed for these patients and several emerging treatments hold promise for improving DLBCL treatment outcomes.Keywords: non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, lymphoma, chemoimmunotherapy, rituximab, treatment