title: Improved survival for relapsed diffuse large B cell lymphoma is predicted by a negative pre-transplant FDG-PET scan following salvage chemotherapy.
abstract: The utility of ([18F])fluoro-2-deoxy- d-glucose positron-emission tomography (FDG-PET) for predicting outcome after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is uncertain - existing studies include a range of histological subtypes or have a limited duration of follow-up. Thirty-nine patients with primary-refractory or relapsed DLBCL with pre-ASCT PET scans were analysed. The median follow-up was 3 years. The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) for patients with positive PET scans pre-ASCT was 35% vs. 81% for those who had negative PET scans (P = 0.003). The overall survival (OS) in these groups was 39% and 81% (P = 0.01), respectively. In a multivariate analysis, PET result, number of salvage cycles and the presence of relapsed or refractory disease were shown to predict a longer PFS; PET negativity (P = 0.04) was predictive of a longer OS. PET is useful for defining those with an excellent prognosis post-ASCT. Although those with positive scans can still be salvaged with current treatments, PET may useful for selecting patients eligible for novel consolidation strategies after salvage therapies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Haematology and Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dickinson
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoyt
authors.forename: Andrew W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grigg
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Seymour
authors.forename: H Miles
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Prince
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szer
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ritchie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012008:Recurrence; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18