Progress in the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas: a German perspective

Young good-prognosis patients comprise the low and low-intermediate risk group (risk factor 0 and 1 according to the age-adjusted IPI) while poor-prognosis patients comprise the high-intermediate and high risk group (≥2 risk factors). Optimum treatment responses in young good-prognosis patients have so far been achieved with 6 cycles of a CHOP-like chemotherapy in combination with the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab. Using this therapeutic approach, 3-year event-free survival rates of >90% and overall survival of >97% can be achieved in a very favorable subgroup (patients without IPI risk factor and no bulky disease), while further improvement is warranted for the less favorable subgroup (IPI=I and/or bulky disease; 3-year event-free survival: 77%).