Current strategies for the treatment of diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

摘要

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This paper reviews the improvement in the treatment of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma. RECENT FINDINGS: The outcome in these patients has become better with longer survival because of two major developments: (1) increasing the dose of active drugs and shortening the time between cycles, resulting in dose-dense or dose-intense regimens, and (2) combining rituximab with chemotherapy. Both strategies have been associated with higher response rates, longer event-free survival, and longer overall survival, particularly in patients without adverse prognostic parameters. A combination of both is currently being tested for these poor-risk patients. SUMMARY: Although improvement has been made in low-risk patients, much work has to be done for patients with high-risk lymphoma. It may come with a better definition of genetic abnormalities specifically associated with refractoriness to chemotherapy.