The importance of radiotherapy on diffuse large B cell lymphoma treatment: a current review.
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma is recognized as a heterogeneous group of hematological malignancies; two main subtypes germinal center B and activated B cells are well defined although 15% of patients remain with unclassifiable disease. R-CHOP treatment has proven to provide very effective results in limited or advanced stage of the disease. However, treatment solely involving R-CHOP submits the patient to possible chemotherapy-induced toxicities, which may be avoided with the use of radiotherapy. Patients with early stage localized disease or who are particularly unresponsive to chemotherapy may be more suitable for mixed modality treatment with R-CHOP and consolidative radiotherapy. Although radiotherapy is being slowly phased out by other treatment strategies including chemotherapy and therapeutic drugs, it is still a highly important method of treatment. The different forms of radiotherapy can be used alongside these "new-age" treatment strategies to further improve prognostic outcomes and overall survival rates. The establishment of radiotherapy as a treatment strategy provides a highly beneficial prognostic advantage in early stage, localized disease.
Biophysics Unit-IBILI.CNC, Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra, Azinhaga Santa Comba, Celas, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal. fjmendes@estescoimbra.pt.|ESTESC-Coimbra Health School, Department Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. fjmendes@estescoimbra.pt.|Center of Investigation in Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. fjmendes@estescoimbra.pt.
Fernando
F
Mendes
Center of Investigation in Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|Applied Molecular Biology and Clinical University of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Cátia
C
Domingues
Biophysics Unit-IBILI.CNC, Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra, Azinhaga Santa Comba, Celas, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.
Ricardo
R
Teixo
Biophysics Unit-IBILI.CNC, Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra, Azinhaga Santa Comba, Celas, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.|Center of Investigation in Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Ana Margarida
AM
Abrantes
Center of Investigation in Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|Applied Molecular Biology and Clinical University of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Ana Cristina
AC
Gonçalves
Radiation Oncology Department, Hospital and University Center of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Inês
I
Nobre-Gois
Radiation Oncology Department, Hospital and University Center of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Miguel
M
Jacobetty
Center of Investigation in Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|Applied Molecular Biology and Clinical University of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Ana Bela
AB
Sarmento
Biophysics Unit-IBILI.CNC, Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra, Azinhaga Santa Comba, Celas, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.|Center of Investigation in Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Maria Filomena
MF
Botelho
Immunology Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Manuel Santos
MS
Rosa
D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011241:Prednisone; D000069283:Rituximab; D014750:Vincristine
D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; C571759:R-CHOP protocol; D000069283:Rituximab; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone
Consolidation radiotherapy; Diffuse large B cell lymphoma; R-CHOP; Radiotherapy