Short- and long-term outcomes from the upfront high-dose chemotherapy, followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

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

Aim. To improve prognosis in DLBCL IV stage, IPI ≥2 pts by upfront auto-HSCT.

Materials and methods. Included 105 pts: DLBCL NOS, age 18-65, stage IV, IPI ≥2, CR/PR after x6 CHOP/EPOCH + R from 2010 to 2019 at NMRC of Oncology named after N.N. Petrov of MoH of Russia were retrospectively analyzed. HSCT group includes pts with upfront HDCT followed by auto-HSCT (n = 35). The control group includes pts with non-invasive follow-up after induction only (n = 70). Primary endpoints were overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints were response rate, relapse rate and treatment toxicity.

Results and discussion. The 3-yr OS (p = 0.01) and 3-yr PFS (p = 0.018) were significantly higher in HSCT group. The complete response rate was significantly increased after upfront auto-HSCT (p < 0.001). Early relapse served as an independent negative prognostic factor in OS (p < 0.001) and experienced statistically less in HDCT group (p = 0.027). Early (ER) and late relapse (LR) rate were higher in pts with DEL (ER - p < 0.001, LR - p < 0.001 in control group and ER - p < 0.001, LR -p = 0.013 in all pts). The overall relapse rate was higher if pts had >1 extranodal site with lung involvement (p < 0.004 in the control group and p = 0.021 in all pts). Prognostic models suggested DEL and presence of >1 extranodal site with lung involvement as an independent negative prognostic factors for increasing the relapse probability in two years after treatment.

Conclusion. Upfront HSCT can serve as a clinical option to consolidate the first remission in IV stage DLBCL pts with DEL and/or >1 extranodal sites with lung involvement.

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