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Management of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)

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Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Part of the book series: Cancer Treatment and Research ((CTAR,volume 165))

Abstract

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma. While CHOP was the standard combination chemotherapy for 25 years, the incorporation of the CD20 antibody rituximab at the beginning of this century has considerably improved the outcome of all patients with DLBCL: Depending on the prognostic subgroup, only half to one-third of the patients die of their DLBCL compared to pre-rituximab era. Treatment is usually tailored according to the individual risk profile of a DLBCL patient according to the International Prognostic Index (IPI). Assignment of DLBCL according to the gene expression profile into DLBLC originating from a germinal center B cell (GC type) or from an activated B cell (ABC type) has provided novel insights into the pathogenesis of the respective DLBCL, identified molecules which are indispensable for the survival of the lymphoma cells and provided targets for novel “targeted therapies” drugs. Incorporating these new drugs into combination immunochemotherapy or substituting single drugs in the R-CHOP combination will result in even higher cure rates of and/or less toxicity for patients with DLBCL in the decade to come.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by Deutsche Krebshilfe, a charity organization.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. German High-Grade Non-Hodgkin-Lymphoma Study Group (DSHNHL), Department Internal Medicine I, Saarland University Medical School, 66421, Homburg, Saarland, Germany

    Boris Kubuschok, Gerhard Held & Michael Pfreundschuh

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  1. Boris Kubuschok
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  2. Gerhard Held
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  3. Michael Pfreundschuh
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Correspondence to Michael Pfreundschuh .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Andrew M. Evens

  2. Division of Hematology, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Kristie A. Blum

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Kubuschok, B., Held, G., Pfreundschuh, M. (2015). Management of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL). In: Evens, A., Blum, K. (eds) Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Cancer Treatment and Research, vol 165. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13150-4_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13150-4_11

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