High-risk DLBCL: Interim PET? Not yet

Abstract

In this issue of Blood, Casasnovas et al demonstrate that among diffuse large B-cell (DLBCL) patients with age-adjusted International Prognostic Index (aaIPI) 2-3, the dose-dense immunochemotherapy (IC) regimen rituximab, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vindesine, bleomycin, prednisone (R-ACVBP) was no better than rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone (R-CHOP14). Using an interim positron emission tomography (PET)–adapted approach to consolidation therapy, they show that quantitative rather than qualitative PET assessment may better select some patients needing alternative treatments, including autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT).1