The significance of upfront autologous stem cell transplantation for high-intermediate/high-risk stage IV diffuse...

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common (30%-35%) type of B-cell lymphoma. Only about 60% of all newly diagnosed advanced-stage DLBCL can be completely treated with x6 R-CHOP. High-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the first remission (upfront auto-HSCT) can serve as an option to improve a prognosis in these patients.

This trial aimed to improve prognosis in DLBCL by upfront auto-HSCT.

A group of 105 patients: DLBCL NOS, age 18-65, stage IV, IPI ≥2, CR/PR after x6 R-CHOP/DA-EPOCH-R from 2010 to 2019 at NMRC of Oncology named after N.N.Petrov of MoH of Russia was retrospectively analyzed. The HSCT group included patients with upfront HDCT followed by auto-HSCT (n = 35). The control group included patients with non-invasive follow-up after induction (n = 70). Primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), response rate and relapse rate. The 3-year OS (p = .013) and 3-year PFS (p = .033) were significantly higher in the HSCT group. The 3-year OS was decreased by the occurrence of relapse (p ≤ .001) and weight loss (B-symptom) (p = .04). DEL was the negative prognostic factor for 3-year PFS in all patients (p = .001) and control group (p = .001). DA-EPOCH-R significantly increased the 3-year PFS (p = .041).

Upfront HDCT followed by auto-HSCT can increase 3-year OS and PFS and improve prognosis in DLBCL NOS, age 18-65, stage IV, IPI ≥2 patients.