Current strategies for the treatment of diffuse large B cell lymphoma.
OBJECTIVE
This paper reviews the improvement in the treatment of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Coiffier
Bertrand
B
Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France. Bertrand.coiffier@chu-lyon.fr
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000628:therapy*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000628:therapy*; D000069283:Rituximab; D016879:Salvage Therapy
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000069283:Rituximab