Long-term remissions in patients with early relapse of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma following high-dose chemotherapy, autologous stem cell transplantation, and radiotherapy of residual disease

Purpose The prognosis of an early relapse of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) appears to be poor following autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The aim of this study is to contribute data to the open question on whether additional radiotherapy can improve the outcome. Patients and methods Forty-eight patients with an early relapse (median 4 months after the end of initial immunochemotherapy, range 1–11) of DLBCL have been treated in our institution with high-dose therapy (usually the BEAM protocol) and ASCT since 2008 (median age 61 years, range 28–73). Twenty-three patients received ASCT in a second treatment line, 25 in a third line (19 refractory to second-line salvage therapy, 5 after second relapse). Fifteen of these 48 patients received radiotherapy (36–50 Gy, median 40) of residual masses after ASCT. Results Three-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) after second-line ASCT were 61 and 57%, after third-line ASCT 47 and 44%, respectively, without significant differences. A prognostic factor was the International Prognostic Index (IPI) at the start of salvage therapy. Three-year OS and PFS in low-risk patients were 69 and 69%, in low-intermediate-risk 63 and 53%, and in high-intermediate-risk 23 and 23%, respectively ( p = 0.033). Twenty-three patients achieved a sustained complete remission (13–146 months, median 62). Conclusion Sustained long-term remissions can be achieved in patients with early relapse of DLBCL following ASCT in a second or third treatment line, particularly in patients with low- and low-intermediate-risk IPI, following radiotherapy of residual disease after ASCT. Further investigations are required to clarify which patients need an alternative therapy (potentially CAR T‑cells or allogeneic transplantation).