Korean J Intern Med.  2012 Dec;27(4):369-377.

Treatment of Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma

• Kwak JY

Abstract

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in all countries and all age groups. DLBCL is potentially curable, and the outcome of patients with DLBCL has completely changed with the introduction of therapy involving the monoclonal antibody rituximab in combination with chemotherapy. Nonetheless, relapse is detected after treatment with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone in approximately 30% of patients. It has recently become clear that DLBCL represents a heterogeneous admixture of quite different entities. Gene expression profiling has uncovered DLBCL subtypes that have distinct clinical behaviors and prognoses; however, incorporation of this information into treatment algorithms awaits further investigation. Future approaches to DLBCL treatment will use this new genetic information to identify potential biomarkers for prognosis and targets for treatment.

Keyword

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma; Therapeutics; Rituximab; Stem cell transplantation

MeSH Terms

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
Biological Markers
Cyclophosphamide
Gene Expression Profiling
Humans
Lymphoma, B-Cell
Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin
Prednisolone
Prognosis
Recurrence
Stem Cell Transplantation
Vincristine
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
Biological Markers
Cyclophosphamide
Prednisolone
Vincristine