title: Maximum standardized uptake value on positron emission tomography/computed tomography predicts clinical outcome in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few clinical studies have clarified the prognostic factors that affect clinical outcomes for patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after immunochemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 158 patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL were enrolled. All patients underwent positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) before and after salvage therapy. All enrolled patients previously received the ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide regimen. Clinical outcomes were compared according to several factors (age ≥ 65 years, low age-adjusted International Prognostic Index [aa-IPI], maximum standardized uptake value [SUVmax] <6.0 on PET/CT, time to relapse ≥12 months, complete response after salvage therapy). A low aa-IPI, SUVmax <6.0, and time to relapse ≥ 12 months were independent prognostic factors for survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In univariate analysis and multivariate analysis, SUVmax below 6.0 (P<0.001 for progression-free survival (PFS), P<0.001 for overall survival (OS)) and low aa-IPI (P<0.001 for PFS, P<0.001 for OS) were independent prognostic factors associated with favorable outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The aa-IPI and initial SUVmax were powerful prognostic factors in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Ryeong
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology-Oncology, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Moo Kon
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology-Oncology, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Seop
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology-Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Korea.
authors.forename: Deok Hwan
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Ok
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Gachon University Gil Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Junshik
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology-Oncology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Su Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Jang
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Suk
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Moon Won
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology-Oncology, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Shin
keywords: Positron emission tomography; SUVmax; aa-IPI