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      News & Perspective Drugs & Diseases CME & Education Academy Video Decision Point
      Drugs & Diseases > Hematology

      Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) Guidelines

      Updated: Nov 18, 2022
      • Author: Shipra Gandhi, MBBS; Chief Editor: Emmanuel C Besa, MD  more...
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      Guidelines

      Guidelines Summary

      Guidelines on diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have been published by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) [73] and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO). [75]

      Diagnosis

      In addition to its general guidance on diagnosis of lymphoma, the NCCN recommends the following studies to establish a diagnosis of DLBCL\\ [73] :

      • Immunohistochemistry (IHC) panel: CD20, CD3, CD5, CD10, CD45, BCL2, BCL6, Ki-67, IRF4/MUM1, MYC
      • Cell surface marker analysis by flow cytometry: kappa/lambda, CD45, CD3, CD5, CD19, CD10, CD20
      • Additional IHC panel for subtyping: Cyclin D1, kappa/lambda, CD30, CD138, EBER-ISH, ALK, HHV8
      • Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or cytogenetics for detection of t(14;18),  t(3;v),  t(8;14),  t(8;v)

      IHC should include adequate markers to differentiate the two subtypes of DLBCL: activated B-cell type (ABC) and germinal center B-cell type (GCB). The subtypes are genetically different diseases, and survival in patients with the ABC subtype is worse than in those with GCB.

      Risk stratification

      The NCCN and ESMO recommend use of the International prognostic index (IPI) for all patients. Age-adjusted International Prognostic Index (aa-IPI) should be used for risk stratification of patients aged 60 years and younger. [73, 75]

      The IPI includes the following risk factors:

      • Age > 60 years
      • Elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level
      • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≥2
      • Stage III or IV disease
      • Extranodal involvement > 1 site

      Each risk factor is worth 1 point. On the basis of the IPI score, patients can be categorized as follows:

      • Low risk (0-1 point)
      • Low-intermediate risk (2 points)
      • High-intermediate risk (3 points)
      • High risk (4-5 points)

      The aa-IPI includes the following risk factors (1 point is allotted for each factor):

      • Elevated LDH level
      • Stage III or IV disease
      • ECOG performance status ≥2

      Based on the aa-IPI score, patients can be categorized as follows:

      • Low risk (0 points)
      • Low-intermediate risk (1 point)
      • High-intermediate risk (2 points)
      • High risk (3 points)

      Treatment

      National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommendations

      NCCN treatment recommendations for stage I/II (nonbulky) disease are as follows [73] :

      • R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin [hydroxydaunorubicin], vincristine [Oncovin], prednisone) for three cycles, followed by involved-field radiation therapy (IFRT)

      • R-CHOP for six cycles with or without IFRT is an acceptable alternative

      • Patients who are not candidates for chemotherapy should receive involved-site radiation therapy (ISRT)

      For stage II bulky disease, NCCN recommends R-CHOP for six cycles, with or without radiation therapy.

      For stage III/IV (advanced-stage) disease, NCCN treatment recommendations are as follows [73] :

      • R-CHOP every 21 days for six cycles is preferred.

      • Consider radiation therapy for bulky sites.

      • Other regimens that may be considered include dose-adjusted EPOCH (etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin) plus rituximab or dose-dense R-CHOP-14.

      • In patients at increased risk for central nervous system relapse (eg, disease involving the paranasal sinus, testis, epidural, bone marrow, HIV lymphoma, kidney or adrenal involvement or > 2 extranodal sites, elevated LDH or concomitant expression of BCL2 and MYC protein), four to eight doses of intrathecal methotrexate and/or cytarabine, or 3-3.5 g/m2 of systemic methotrexate for prophylaxis is recommended.

      For relapse or refractory disease, high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous stem cell rescue (ASCR) is the treatment of choice. Before or after HDC and ASCR, IFRT is given to previous disease sites. Second-line regimens for HDC include the following, which may be given with or without rituximab :

      • DHAP (dexamethasone, cytarabine [high-dose Ara C], cisplatin)
      • ESHAP (methylprednisolone, etoposide, cytarabine, cisplatin)
      • GDP (gemcitabine, dexamethasone, cisplatin)
      • GemOx (gemcitabine and oxaliplatin)
      • ICE (ifosfamide, carboplatin, etoposide)
      • MINE (mitoxantrone, ifosfamide, mesna, etoposide)

      Patients with relapsed disease who are not eligible for HDC and ASCR should be enrolled in a clinical trial. If one is not available, they should receive palliative chemotherapy.

      European Society for Medical Oncology recommendations

      The ESMO guidelines contain specific recommendations for patients < 60 years old based on aaIPI risk. [75]

      For aa-IPI=0 without bulky disease, treatment recommendations are as follows:

      • R-CHOP every 21 d for six cycles is preferred

      • Radiation therapy has no proven benefit

      For aa-IPI=0 with bulky disease or aa-IPI=1, treatment recommendations are as follows:

      • R-CHOP every 21 d for six cycles with IFRT,  or

      • R-ACVBP (rituximab, doxorubicin, vindesine, cyclophosphamide, bleomycin, prednisolone) and sequential consolidation

      For aa-IPI≥2, ESMO notes that no standard of care has been established; enrollment in a clinical trial is preferred. R-CHOP every 21 days for eight cycles is one possible regimen.

      Follow-up

      A PET-CT scan should be performed to confirm complete remission (CR). Patients in CR should receive clinical follow up with a history and physical examination and laboratory studies (eg, complete blood cell count, comprehensive metabolic panel, lactate dehydrogenase level) every 3-6 months for 5 years and then yearly or as clinically indicated. Imaging studies (CT scan) should be performed no more often than every 6 mo for 2 years after the completion of treatment, and then only as clinically indicated. [73]

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