Role of Consolidative Radiation Therapy Following Autologous Stem Cell Transplant for Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Abstract

among survivors has been acceptable with no severe (>grade 3) side effects noted. Conclusion: We have been able to successfully deliver a total dose of up to 1800 cGy to the entire bony skeleton with our TMI technique without observing any dose-limiting toxicity among the patients. Further dose-escalation appears feasible, and treatment response is encouraging since the median time to relapse post second ASCT in this high-risk population appears to be consistent with that reported in the literature. We are now in the process of increasing the total dose to 2000 cGy/10fr/bid/5 days.

Role of Radiation Therapy in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Guidelines from the International Lymphoma Radiation Oncology Group

“…Limited, nonrandomized data are available regarding the role of radiation therapy (RT) in the setting of relapsed or refractory aggressive NHL (2,(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). In the present review, we have summarized the available evidence and provided recommendations on the use of RT for relapsed/refractory DLBCL, the most common subtype of aggressive NHL.…”

The role of radiotherapy as salvage and/or consolidation treatment in relapsed/refractory and high‐risk diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma

“…However, no study has been prospectively designed to address this issue, as several studies did not even directly address the issue of the impact of RT in this indication, but included patients irradiated either before or after ASCT . Most patients included had R/R aggressive NHL and were irradiated either for a residual mass after chemotherapy or to control progressive disease or reduce the risk of relapse in patients with bulky disease . Therefore, it is difficult to compare the results of those studies due to the wide range of indications, irradiation conditions and, above all, response criteria.…”

“…Nevertheless, RT appears to be beneficial in terms of local control whether it is administered before or after ASCT, sometimes with a positive impact on PFS and OS . The main advantage of RT is improvement of local control, resulting in a significant reduction in the relapse rate at the primary site of the disease, especially in the context of residual mass after chemotherapy or bulky sites . This advantage is maintained even in the age of anti‐CD20 antibodies.…”